Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Casey Anderson had a busy ... and productive first day of the softball season. The sophomore whacked out three hits, drove in four runs and pitched nine innings as Hamline opened the 2015 season by splitting a pair of games with Buena Vista at the Irish Sports Dome in Rosemount February 28. HU dropped the opener, 3-2, but rallied for a solid 6-2 win in the nightcap. 

In the latter game, Anderson pitched a complete game. The sophomore allowed only one hit until the seventh inning (when the Beavers scored both their runs). She walked none and fanned a pair. She was also productive at the plate, cracking a pair of doubles and driving in three runs. The top four hitters in the Piper lineup -- Jamie Rubbelke, Mary-Clare Couillard, Amanda Orrell and Anderson had two hits each to pace a 10-hit attack. 

The Pipers grabbed an instant lead on Anderson's RBI double in the top of the first inning. Her second two-bagger capped a two-run third frame. Later, Alli Ruter smoked a home run to deep center to make it 4-0. HU added two more solo runs (Anderson drove in the last one with a sacrifice fly) to ensure the win. 

In the opener, Ruter drove in an early run with a RBI grounder and Anderson homered to left to give HU a 2-1 cushion after four innings. But the Beavers rallied against HU starter Sarah DeMars in the sixth to tie the game. Anderson, who had come on in relief that inning, was on the mound in the seventh when BVU scored again to earn the win. 

Hamline plays another pair of games Sunday in Rochester. The Pipers face St. Scholastica at 4:30 p.m. and then tangles with UW-La Crosse at 7:00 p.m. Last year, HU defeated CSS, 10-5, in Rochester. The Saints open their season earlier that day against Luther. UW-L is 0-2 in 2015. They play Milliken prior to meeting the Pipers on Sunday. HU has not faced the Eagles since 2012.