Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Hamline's baseball team split a doubleheader with Concordia at the Metrodome in their season finale Wednesday. But they needed to win both games and, despite a terrific won-loss mark under new head coach Jim Weyandt, will miss the MIAC playoffs this weekend.

The Pipers are 24-14 overall but just 9-11 in the MIAC. A revamped playoff format has six teams entering a single elimination playoff this year. But the best HU can do now is tie for seventh place.

Matt Eickman (pictured) got things off in the right direction when he pitched a sterling seven-hut shutout en route to a 5-0 win. The righty worked out of a pair of bases loaded jams en route to pitching the team's second CG blanking of the season. Dan Ellefson and Cam Smith had two hist each while Evan Cordell drove in two runs. Cordell's second inning RBI single turned out to be the only run Eickman needed. HU scored twice in the second inning and then added solo in the third, fourth and sixth frames. 

It was Eickman's sixth victory of the season, which currently ties him for the MIAC lead.

In the nightcap, Concordia scored all their runs in the top of the first inning and held the Pipers off for a 3-1 decision. Ellefson only allowed seven batters to reach base in the entire game. Unfortunately, the first four all had hits and three of them scored. 

Hamline responded in the second as Matt Connell walked and Harley Thompson tripled him home. HU pushed a runner to third on three different occasions but couldn't get him home. The Pipers' attack was harmed by the fact that their normal two leadoff hitters -- Jordan Buck and Dan Moro -- were sidelined wiht injuries. Buck did serve as the DH in game 1 and went 1-for-3 with a RBI. In the second game, both were limited to pinch-hit roles. 

The Pipers will have some regrouping to do in 2014 as they lose a dozen seniors to graduation. In the addition to Ellefson, who played a solid third base when not pitching, lineup regulars Buck, Mark Radmacher, Jordan Rubbelke along with pitchers Casey Benford and Andy Weiss are seniors. Also on the list: reserves Jacob Dahl, Josh Dishop, Devon LaCoursiere, Keenan Humphrey, Josh Fleury and Derek Ritter.