Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The Hamline softball team used a series of big blows to get the MIAC season off to a flying start.

 HU rallied for four runs in the top of the seventh inning to win the first game of a doubleheader at Carleton Sunday.  Then, the Pipers exploded for 11 runs in the top of the fourth inning to earn an 11-3 win and open the MIAC slate with a 2-0 mark.

Things started well in Northfield.  Hamline shot to a quick 3-0 lead in the first game only to see the Knights come back with four runs in the fifth inning.  It was still 4-3 in the seventh when Mary-Clare Couillard led off the inning with a walk. Amanda Orrell singled and Aubree Douglas walked to load the bases. With one out Chelsea Koehn cleared them with a booming triple to right center. Casey Anderson followed with a single and that was enough for what eventually was a 7-5 win.

Anderson allowed 10 hits but did not walk a batter to earn the win.

The second game was going along tightly at no score until the Pipers bats went to work.  The inning opened with three singles. Anderson plated all of them with a grand slam homer. The bats kept booming as 15 batters came to the plate. There were nine hits in all (Orrell knocked in two runs with a single) as the Pipers racked up their biggest inning in many years.

Sarah DeMars was the beneficiary of this largesse and stifled the Knights, giving up three fifth inning runs, to earn the pitching victory. HU was one of just two MIAC schools to open with a double win. The Pipers are 9-7 overall. They will open their Meredith Field schedule on Wednesday, April 6 against Gustavus Adolphus. The first game is set for 3:30 p.m.