Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The last time Hamline qualified for the MIAC baseball playoffs, they won it and advanced to their first NCAA Tournament appearance ever. 

The Pipers will have a chance to repeat that 2011 feat May 13-15 when the tournament is held in Collegeville and Cold Spring. Hamline is tied for third place with St. Mary's with a 12-6 MIAC mark (22-12 overall) after losing a pair of games to St. Thomas at CHS Field Wednesday. The Pipers rallied from a 9-2 deficit to tie the game before dropping a hectic 11-9 decision in the second game of the doubleheader. HU fell in the opener, 9-0. 

It will be the Pipers' fourth trip to the MIAC postseason. In addition to their winning appearance in 2011, HU also participated in the 2008 and 2009 tournaments. 

After being held to three hits in the opener, HU had 21 baserunners in the nightcap. Dan Moro (pictured) was on base five consecutive times while Jacob Picht, Collin Olstad, Andy Sammon and Rick Tormey reached three times each. 

Hamline trailed 9-2 in th seventh when they took advantage of wildness by St. Thomas' pitchers. Tyler Summers had the only hit of the three-run inning -- a single. The Pipers also received three walks and were hit by a pitch twice in cutting the deficit to 9-5.

Things even got more interesting the next inning. Moro again led off with a walk. Picht singled and Olstad doubled a run home. Joe Setrum worked the count and then bombed a drive that went over everything in right center field to tie the game at 9. 

Unfortunately, the Tommies scored a pair of unearned runs in the top of the ninth to regain the lead. But the Pipers refused to go away. With two out, Moro was hit by a pitch -- the fifth Piper to do so in the game. Picht singled but Olstad flied out to deep right to end the game. Nate Rubbelke (0-2) , who threw 3.1 innings of relief and did not allow an earned run, was the hard luck loser. 

It was the start of a busy week for Hamline. They host Bethany Lutheran for a doubleheader at CHS on Friday, May 6 at 4:00 p.m. On May 7, HU plays its final MIAC games of the season at Carleton (1:00 p.m.). Wisconsin-Superior then visits CHS on Sunday, May 8 for a pair that will begin at 11:00 a.m.