It was one of those days where just about everything worked the way Hamline softball coach Jim Rubbelke wanted. The Pipers grabbed the lead early and received solid pitching efforts in both games to sweep away St. Mary's, 5-0 and 6-3, in Winona Saturday.

Hamline improved to 4-3 in MIAC play and 11-12 overall with the double triumph.

For the second straight day, Alex Molloy was strong on the mound and at the plate in Game 1. The sophomore righthander needed just 88 pitches to toss a five hit shutout (her second this week), walking one batter and fanning six. She also knocked in a pair of runs with a two RBI single. HU also got offensive firepower from Anna O'Connor (3-for-4, three runs scored) and Megan Rubbelke, who drilled two doubles as part of a three hit game. 

In Game 2, Riley Husom and Delaney Kohler had two hits apiece. Kat Armstrong and Lauren Sotnyk each drove in two runs as part of the eight hit attack. Hamline jumped fast, scoring three times in the top of the first inning. The Cardinals responded quickly with two in the first and threatened again in the second frame but Kira Krueger came on in relief of starter Sabrina Warden, squashed the threat and continued on to hurl six innings of four hit, no walk, six strikeouts work. 

Sotnyk's two RBI triple highlighted a three-run third inning that gave HU a 6-2 lead that proved to be more than enough. 

Hamline finishes off a busy weekend with a doubleheader against St. Benedict Sunday, April 7 at Meredith Field. The doubleheeader begins at 1:00 p.m.