Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 So what will Sarah DeMars and Mary-Clare Couillard do for an encore?

The freshmen pair from St. Anthony Village High School had big nights as Hamline's softball team opened MIAC play with 4-2 and 6-5 (in eight innings) wins over Augsburg in Minneapolis Friday night. The Pipers improved to 7-8-1 overall with two wins that were achieved in opposite fashion.

In the opener, the Pipers scored four in the first inning and held the Auggies off for the win. The first six HU batters reached base to give winning pitcher Brooke Chapman a solid edge. Chapman, also a first-year player, walked four and fanned four in 6.1 innings of work. When Augsburg put runners on first and second, Chapman gave way to DeMars (pictured), who induced two ground balls to end the game and earn the save.

The second game was a different story. Couillard, who had a RBI hit in the first inning outburst in the opener, led the offense with four hits and a walk. The Auggies jumped to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning and still held that margin when Couillard beat out a bunt to start the third inning. One batter later, Jamie Rubbelke drilled her second home run of the season to make it 3-2.

In the fourth, Couillard's two-RBI double lifted the Pipers to a 4-3 lead. The Auggies, however, came back against starter Bri Vela, who left in favor of DeMars in the sixth inning. The freshman got off to a tough start, hitting a pair of batters to force in runs to give Augsburg a 5-4 lead but settled down and held them scoreless the rest of the way.

HU was down to its last out when Jenna Dushaw singled to move a runner into scoring position. Lauren Turitto followed with a RBI single to center to tie the game and force the extra frame.

With one out in the eighth, Couillard beat out a bunt. Rubbelke walked. The pair then pulled off a double steal. DeMars, who had just been inserted into the lineup and drew a walk to load the bases. Chelsea Koehn hit the first pitch she saw down the left field line to score Couillard and send the Pipers home with the sweep. 

DeMars capped her day by earning the win.

Hamline is off for the weekend. They will test their unbeaten MIAC mark at preseason favorite (and cuirrent league leader) St. Thomas. The first game of the doubleheader is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.