Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 On a cold day at Macalester, Nick Kukurich and Mitch Benson found a way to keep warm. The pair has two hits in each game as the Piper baseball team split a doubleheader Wednesday. Hamline won the first game, 6-2 but lost the nightcap, 9-4. The Pipers are 2-2 in the MIAC and 12-8 overall. 

The sophomores shared center stage with pitchers Zach Smith and Aaron Stoneberg in the opener. Kukurich went 2-for-4 with two 2 RBI and Benson went 2-for-3 with a RBI and added a great catch in center field (pictured) to support Smith and Stoneberg, who scattered eight hits. Stoneberg worked the final four innings, giving up no runs on two hits, to earn the win.  The junior is now 4-0 on the season, which leads the MIAC in victories.

The Pipers were down 2-1 when they erupted for four runs fifth inning runs to take the win in the first game. Kukurich's single ties the game and Benson's bases-loaded walk broke the tie for good. HU added two more runs and another one in the sixth on a Kukurich RBI single to solidify the win. 

In the second game, Hamline grabbed an early lead in the second inning when Benson singled, moved up on a single and a bunt and dashed home on Rick Tormey's sacrifice fly. The Scots retaliated by scoring the next seven runs and the Pipers were unable to catch up. 

HU returns to action Saturday when they host Gustavus Adolphus at CHS Field Saturday. The doubleheader  begins at 1:00 p.m.