WINONA, Minn. - The Hamline softball team (3-5, 0-2 MIAC) played their first games in 21 days, opening conference play with a pair of losses to Saint Mary's (5-11, 2-2 MIAC). The Cardinals outhit the Pipers 25 to eight on the day to win both games by scores of 8-3.
 
GAME 1: SAINT MARY'S 8, HAMLINE 3
The Pipers held a 3-0 lead over the Cardinals early in the first game, but would see SMU rally for eight runs in the final five innings to win the opener 8-3.
 
Hamline's offense struggled in the contest, with just three hits throughout the seven innings. Two of those hits came in the second inning, when first year Alison Kimball singled to start the inning, stole second base, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a sacrifice fly from senior April Jacobs. Senior Megan Rubbelke would also single and steal a base, but would be left on base.
 
The final Piper hit came from junior Amber Peterson, who singled in the fourth.
 
HU managed to get two runs across right away in the first inning, using two bases-loaded walks to take a quick 2-0 lead. Seniors Alex Molloy and Cora Stallcup recorded RBIs in the inning.
 
After Kimball scored in the third, HU would hold that 3-0 lead for an inning before the Cardinals scored two runs in the bottom of the third and four runs in the fourth (all four unearned) to take over the lead 6-3. They would add two additional runs in the sixth, on five singles.
 
The Pipers were retired 1-2-3 in both the fifth and the sixth and despite having a runner on in the seventh (Gabby Cook reached on an error), they were not able to get anything going, leaving the final at 8-3.
 
Molloy took the loss on the mound, giving up eight runs (only four earned) on 14 hits.
 
GAME 2: SAINT MARY'S 8, HAMLINE 3
Game two of the doubleheader proved to be similar to game one, as the Pipers struggled to get their offense moving. Cook and Rubbelke led the way at the plate, each tallying two hits. First year Kiana Island had the final hit of the day, as HU was outhit 11-5.
 
A double, a Piper error, and a homer for the Cardinals led to three runs for SMU between the second and third innings, putting them ahead 3-0 early in the game.
 
Hamline would get two of those runs back in the third as Jacobs reached on an error and Rubbelke singled to start the inning. Jacobs would eventually score on a sacrifice fly from junior Theresa Klinnert and Island would drive in Rubbelke to make it 3-2.
 
The Cardinals rallied for four runs in the bottom of the inning, using three hits and two HU errors to extend their lead to 7-2.
 
Rubbelke drove in a run in the fifth inning, doubling to left field to score Cook, who had singled earlier in the inning. The Pipers were unable to get any more runs across the rest of the game, however. The Cardinals would get an additional run in the sixth to claim the 8-3 decision.
 
Klinnert took the loss on the mound, pitching five innings and giving up eight runs (only four earned) on 10 hits. Junior Dana Rosbacka pitched the final inning in relief, giving up no runs on one hit.
 
The Pipers will look to bounce back tomorrow when they head to St. Thomas for a doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m.