Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 For most of the 14 games the Hamline baseball team played in Arizona in March, the hitters stole the spotlight. Come April – and the start of the MIAC season – it was the pitchers' turn to earn the plaudits.

Nolan Schoonveld and Aaron Stoneberg combined to get outs when they needed them as the Pipers earned a 3-2 win at St. John's Sunday and a split of their conference opening doubleheader. HU dropped the first game, 5-2.

Schoonveld, a freshman righty, went the first six innings, surrendering a solo run on just five hits to improve to 2-0 on the season. Stoneberg finished matters with a monster save, going three innings and getting the final out with the tying run in scoring position.

There was some timely hitting as well. Collin Olstad broke up a scoreless tie with a solo home run to open the sixth inning.  Later in the same frame, Tyler Summers, who had two hits and a RBI in the first game, made it 2-0 with a sacrifice fly.

The Johnnies replied with a marker in the bottom of the sixth. Hamline pushed across an unearned run in the seventh .  SHU scored in the eighth inning and made things a little dicey with a two out double in the ninth. Stoneberg, however, retired Max Jackson on a grounder to end the game and send Hamline home with a 9-7 overall record.

In game 1, the Pipers fell into an early hold, trailing 3-0 after an inning. Jacob Picht, the MIAC's leading hitter, and Summers (pictured) each had two hits and batted in a run.  Alex Bauermeister (2-1) went the distance for HU.

Hamline now returns to St. Paul to start their second season at CHS Field. The Pipers will face Minnesota-Morris in a non-conference doubleheader Monday, April 4. The first game begins at 3:00 p.m.