Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Matt Connell probably wishes he could play more games in Collegeville. The junior rapped out six hits in seven at bats but the Pipers came up just agonizingly short, losing 3-2 and 10-9 to the Johnnies Saturday. Andy Sammon continued his late season surge with hits in both games as HU slipped back under the .500 mark at 13-14 for the season. The Pipers stand 6-10 in MIAC play.

Connell, who is now batting a healthy .387 on the season, had a pair of hits and a RBI in the opening game. Hre has hits in nine of his last 10 games.

Down 3-1 after three innings in the first game, HU inched back within a run and moved the tying run as far as third base in the sixth inning before being retired. Matt Eickman (3-5), the HU starter, took the loss. 

Anxious to make amends, Hamline came out swinging in the second game, jumping to a 4-0 lead before the Johnnies made it to the plate. Evan Cordell, who later would get a pair of hits to raise his average to .439, started things by being hit by a pitch. Connell, Dan Moro and Harley Thompson added singles and Sammon chipped in with a double. 

SJU tied the game at 4 by the end of the fourth frame. The top of the order then untied things in the 6th. Cordell, Connell and Cam Smith singled and eventually scored to give HU a 7-4 edge. SJU chopped the lead to 7-6 after six only to see Hamline get solo tallies in the seventh and eighth innings. The Johnnies came back hard in the last of the eighth for four more runs of Rob Miller (4-3) to get the sweep.

If the weather gods cooperate, Hamline should have a busy baseball week. HU is set for a single non-conference game at Luther on April 29. They are at Macalester for a MIAC pair on April 30. The next night, HU plays its last games at Midway Stadium when they host North Central in a non-ference twi-night twinbill. The Pipers wrap up MIAC play at St. Olaf May 3.