Kira Krueger was a force on the mound and at the plate. As a result, the Hamline softball team will play for the MIAC Championship Sunday. 

The junior threw a six hit shutout and drilled out a pair of hits with two RBI as the Pipers defeated St. Olaf, 5-0, late Saturday afternoon at St. Thomas' field. 

The Pipers will face the Tommies at 11:00 a.m. for the league postseason title and a berth in the NCAA tournament. The tournament is double elimination. So, if HU wins the first game, a second one will follow.,

Krueger improved to 6-4 on the season with a no walk, six strikeout effort. In addition to Krueger (who now has a seven game hitting streak), Anna O'Connor and Theresa Klinnert had two hits apiece as HU improved to 25-16 on the season. 

HU struck early. In the second inning, Delaney Kohler was safe on an error and eventually scored on a wild pitch. An inning Megan Rubbelke's bases loaded walk plated Klinnert, who started the rally with a single. 

A three run fourth frame sealed the deal. Klinnert knocked in one run with an infield single and moved to second on a wild pitch. O'Connor's single sent Klinnert with the freshman alertly taking second on the throw. Krueger then drilled a ball through the left side for two more runs as the Pipers improved to 26-15 overall with their 12th win in their last 14 games. The  26 wins are two short of the school record.

As a result, Hamline advance to the championship game for the second time in three years. They lost to St. Thomas, 3-0, earlier in the day. The teams split a doubleheader early in the season.