Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The Hamline softball team fell back to .500 in MIAC play with a pair of losses to perennial power St. Thomas Monday afternoon. But there were still things to give HU coach Jim Rubbelke reason to smile a bit.

For one thing, Katie Koren (pictured in middle) had a good day at the plate and in the field in Hamline's 5-0, 4-1 setbacks on the Tommies' home turf. The junior catcher raised her batting average 70 points to .292 with three hits and threw out three baserunners on the day. One of her victims was UST SS Jenna Hoffman, who leads the league in hitting and is second in stolen bases with 13. 

For another, the Piper received some solid pitching efforts from their bevy of first year hurlers. In the opener, HU starting pitcher Casey Anderson allowed just five hits in taking the loss. Anderson was undone by an error and a wuild streak that saw her walk three batters in one inning. Koren had two of the Pipers' three hits in the game. 

In the second game, Brooke Chapman did not allow an earned run in four innings in relief of starter Bri Vela. The Pipers had six hits in this game, putting runners in scoring position in each of the first three innings but failing to score. When they did so again in the fourth frame, UST went to ace pitcher Kendra Bowe (who had pitched thre first game shutout) to quell the HU attack. 

Lauren Turitto led the Piper offense with a pair of doubles. 

Hamline fell to 7-10-1 overall, 2-2 in the MIAC. The Pipers will be busy this week. If Meredith Field is ready, HU will host St. Catherine (4-10 overall, 2-0 MIAC) Wednesday for a pair of games starting at 3:30 p.m. HU will play at Macalester Saturday in a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader.