The Piper baseball team's last memory of a weekend in Kansas was a happy one. Dayton Gutsch and Cullen Buck had two hits each and Jake Dujmovic had an impressive two inning save as Hamline defeated Luther, 4-3, in a nine inning game in the finale of a four game sojourn south. HU went 1-3 overall against the Norse, losing two one-run games in extra innings. Among the hitters who saw the majority of the action, Nolan Schoonveld swung the best stick, rapping out five hits in 16 at bats, including a pair of doubles.

The season started March 1 in Pittsburg. HU rallied from a 2-0 deficit to tie the score and force an extra frame, only to fall by a 3-2 count. A six run third inning knocked the Pipers out in an 11-0 loss in the nightcap. The next afternoon saw the scene move to Fort Scott. Evan Bayer (pictured) was in midseason form on the mound, pitching the distance only to have to absorb a 2-1 eight inning setback. Bayer allowed eight hits and only one earned run. In the second game, the Pipers used a variety of ways to manufacture runs. Devin Rodgers' bases loaded walk produced a first inning run. In the third, Zack Langton doubled and eventually rode home Rodgers was safe on an error. The game was tied at 2 in the sixth when Cyle Hartwig squeezed home a run and Schoonveld followed with a RBI single that produced what proved to be the deciding tally.

Will Tzavares, who had relieved starter Jimmy Skroch, allowed a run on three hits in 2.1 innings. Dujmovic took up the cudgel from there, allowing a single hit with three strikeouts to earn the save. 

Hamline's scheduled March 9 doubleheader with Minnesota-Morris has already has already been postponed. The next scheduled action will be in the warmer climes of Tucson, Arizona when HU starts a seven game swing with a game against Buena Vista.