Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 They were games worthy of any postseason tournament. 

Matt Connell's last gasp home run lifted Hamline's baseball team a taut 3-2 win over Macalester in the opener of a doubleheader Sunday at Nicholson Field. The Scots then turned the tables to win by the same score in the second game. 

On what might have the best day all spring for a baseball game, the Pipers and Scots were tightly matched from the first pitch to the last. In the first game, HU jumped to an early lead when Evan Cordell led off the day with a double and eventually scored on a Harley Thompson fielder's choice. The Scots struck back for two runs (one unearned) off starting pitcher Aaron Stoneberg in the bottom of the first for a 2-1 lead.

For the next five innings, it stayed that way. Stoneberg was superb, allowing just one hit and one walk during his time on the mound. For the longest time, it appeared he would be a hard lick losing pitcher. In the seventh, the first two HU batters were retired. Fortunately, the next two hitters in the order -- Cordell and Connell have been Hamline;'s best swingers all season with two outs.  Cordell (.400 in these situations) punched a single through the right side. Connell (.342)  then followed with a towering fly ball that cleared the high fence in right for a team high fourth homer of the season and the 3-2 lead.

The drama, however, wasn't over. The Scots put a pair of runners on in the bottom of the inning before Nicholas Roessler induced a fly out to end the game. Stoneberg earned his college win and Roessler his first save.

The roles, unfortunately, were reversed in the second game. Dan Moro's bases loaded single in the fourth gave HU a 1-0 lead. An unearned run in the seventh made it 2-0. But the Scots rebounded for three in the last of the seventh for the lead. 

Hamline didn't go quietly. The Pipers loaded the bases with one out in the ninth and hit two sharp grounders in a row up the middle. The Mac pitcher, however, grabbed both of them to record the outs and the split of the day's activity. 

HU finished their MIAC action with a 9-11 mark. Overall, they stand 16-15 with two games remaining. Hamline will play at Luther Monday, May 5 and close out the season against Northwestern on Tuesday, May 6. That game will be played at St. Anthony High School, beginning at 7:00 p.m.