NORTHFIELD, Minn. - After winning the first game of the series on Friday night, the Hamline baseball team (11-23, 6-15 MIAC) fell twice on Sunday to Carleton College (6-19, 4-19 MIAC) in Northfield. In game one, the Knights' offense proved tough to stop, as they won 14-2. The Pipers had more hits than Carleton in game two, but would come up just short in the 9-8 decision.
 
GAME 1: CARLETON 14, HAMLINE 2
In game one, Carleton compiled 14 hits, including 10 for extra bases, on their way to a 14-2 win. Hamline was held to five hits in the game. Sophomore Owen Christenson had two of the five hits and first year Mac Enlow drove in both of HU's runs.
 
A double and a triple in the first inning led to a 1-0 lead for Carleton, but Hamline would answer with two runs in the top of the third when Enlow homered, also scoring junior Cullen Buck. The Knights would take the lead back in the bottom of the inning as three hits and a sacrifice fly got two runs across to make it 3-2 in their favor.
 
In the fourth, Carleton unloaded for six runs on seven hits and a hit by pitch. This made it 9-2. An unearned run in the fifth and four more runs in the sixth would make it 14-2, which it would stay for the remainder of the game.
 
In addition to Christenson's two hits and Enlow's homer, both senior Colton Peters and sophomore Logan Tollefson would tally a hit in the top of the seventh.
 
Sophomore Zach Branson started on the mound, pitching the first 3.1 innings. He allowed eight runs on 10 hits and would take the loss. Sophomore Braden Schneider came in next, giving up the final six runs on eight hits. First year Josh Cary pitched the final 0.1 innings, giving up a hit but striking out the next batter to strand two runners.
 
GAME 2: CARLETON 9, HAMLINE 8
The Piper offense got going in the second game, recording 16 hits, but would leave 11 runners on base in the 9-8 loss. Hamline had an opportunity to keep the game going, as they scored a run and had the tying run at third in the ninth, but the Knights were able to stop the rally just in time to secure the doubleheader sweep.
 
Five different Pipers had multiple hits in the game. Peters and first year Matt Rusch each had three and Gavin Renwick, Dylan Barganz, and Tyler Johnson chipped in with two apiece. Barganz also drove in three runs.
 
The Knights took advantage of an HU error early in the game to score three unearned runs in the bottom of the first. Hamline would get one of those runs back in the second, when senior Zack Langton was driven in by Barganz.
 
A leadoff walk that came around to score in the third for Carleton made it 4-1. The Pipers would make it 4-2 in the fourth after Rusch doubled and would score on an RBI single from Peters. In the bottom of the inning, the Knights would score twice more, pushing their lead to 6-4.
 
Hamline would score three runs in the sixth, making it a one-run game. Barganz tripled in the inning, scoring both Renwick and Peters and Johnson drove in Barganz with a double. Carleton would push a run across in the bottom of the inning, making it 7-5 after six complete.
 
The Pipers tied the game at seven in the seventh inning, using four singles to score twice. Rusch drove in the first run and Langton drove in the second. The Knights took over the lead again in the bottom of the seventh, scoring two unearned runs to make it 9-7.
 
HU had two runners on in the eighth, but wouldn't score again until the ninth. Langton opened the inning with a walk and then Renwick singled which would score Langton. Johnson singled to right center later in the inning, moving Renwick (the tying run) to third. The Knights buckled down, however, and retired the final out to leave the final score at 9-8.
 
Junior Ryan Conn started the game on the mound, pitching the first three innings. He allowed four runs (only two earned) on four hits. Max Gerstner relieved Conn, giving up two runs in his 1.2 innings of work and Jonah Smallfield came in next, giving up a run in his 0.2 innings. Hayden Ring closed out the game and would take the loss, giving up two runs (neither earned) on three hits.
 
The Pipers will play again tomorrow, heading north to take on Minnesota Morris for a doubleheader starting at 2:00 p.m.