DUNDAS, Minn. - The Hamline University softball team (1-1) split their first doubleheader of the season with Northland (4-4) at Dundas Dome on Tuesday afternoon. The Pipers recorded 16 hits between the two games, falling in the first 2-1, but bouncing back in the second to win 9-1 in five innings.
 
HU was led by junior Theresa Klinnert, who went 4-5 (.800) at the plate, hitting for the cycle between the two games, while also driving in a run and drawing two walks. April Jacobs also had a strong performance to start her senior season, collecting three hits and recording three putouts and four assists at third, playing errorless during both games.
 
GAME 1: NORTHLAND 2, HAMLINE 1
Despite a combined 18 hits between the two teams in game one, only three runs were scored, with the Jills coming away with a 2-1 decision. The game was scoreless through the first four innings, but Northland got one across in the fifth on an RBI single and added another in the seventh. The Pipers got a rally going in the seventh, but would only score one to leave the final at 2-1.
 
Klinnert, Jacobs, and senior Cora Stallcup led the way offensively for HU, each tallying two hits. Junior Anna O'Connor and first year Alison Kimball each added a hit. Hamline threatened every inning, but couldn't capitalize in the first six innings, leaving 12 runners on, including leaving bases loaded in the second and sixth innings.
 
The game got off to a good start for the Pipers, getting a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the first. Junior Amber Peterson immediately created a threat for Hamline, walking and stealing second to give HU a runner in scoring position early. Klinnert also walked and both runners stole to put themselves on second and third, but the Jills were able to record the final out to keep the game tied at zero.
 
In the second, Stallcup and Kimball singled and O'Connor walked to load the bases, but once again the Jills stayed calm under pressure to get the final out of the inning and the game remained scoreless.
 
In the third, the Pipers had runners on second and third and in the fourth, HU had a runner on third, but the team was still unable to score.
 
Northland used three hits in the fifth to get their run across and would withstand another Piper threat to take that 1-0 lead into the seventh.
 
In the sixth, Stallcup once again got a rally going, this time singling up the middle. Senior Riley Husom followed that up with a walk and Kimball reached on an error to load the bases. Northland pitcher Sofia Garcia really buckled down here, striking out the next three batters to crush the HU momentum.
 
An unearned run crossed the plate for the Jills in the seventh, stretching their lead to two. Klinnert tripled to start a seventh inning rally for HU and was driven in by a single from Jacobs, but Northland found a way to get out of the inning to preserve the win.
 
Junior Dana Rosbacka made her first career start in the game for the Pipers, pitching 5.2 innings, giving up just one run while striking out two. Klinnert pitched the final 1.1 innings, giving up the other run, which was unearned.
 
GAME 2: HAMLINE 9, NORTHLAND 1
The Hamline offense got going in the second game, compiling eight hits and capitalizing on four Jill errors to score nine runs and end the game in five innings.
 
Klinnert, Peterson, and Husom all had two hits in the game, with Jacobs and sophomore Ava Helmer each chipping in with a hit apiece.
 
In addition to her two hits, Klinnert also went all five innings on the mound, giving up just one run on four hits to earn her first win of the season.
 
The Pipers wasted no time in getting on the board, putting up four runs in the top of the first inning. Peterson singled, senior Megan Rubbelke reached on an error, and Klinnert singled to load the bases. An error helped two runners score and Klinnert scored on a passed ball and first year Kiana Island would later score as well to make it 4-0.
 
The Jills answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning, using a walk, wild pitch, sac bunt, and a single to get one of those runs back. This, however, would be the only run that the Pipers would allow all game.
 
Hamline added to their lead in the second, as Husom doubled, Peterson tripled, and Rubbelke hit a sac fly to score Peterson. This made it 6-1 after two innings of play, and two hits and a Northland error in the third led to two more runs for HU and an 8-1 score after three complete. Klinnert added to that total with a home run over the left field wall in the fourth, giving HU an eight-run lead with an inning and a half to go.
 
Northland got a runner on in the fourth and a pair of runners on in the fifth, but were unable to score them, giving Hamline the run-rule victory.
 
The Pipers will play again this week, taking on UW-Stevens Point on Friday, March 12 at the West St. Paul Dome. First pitch is set for 10:00 a.m. Live stats and video will be available, with links on the softball schedule page.