MANKATO, MINN.—The Hamline University softball team opened their 2022 season with a Sunday-afternoon twin bill against No. 12 UW-Oshkosh and UW-Eau Claire at the Bethany Lutheran Kwik Trip Invitational. The Pipers mustered just two runs on the day as they dropped a 5-2 decision to UW-Oshkosh, and fell 3-0 to UW-Eau Claire.
The Pipers begin their season with an 0-2 record. UW-Oshkosh ended the day with a 3-1 record, while UW-Eau Claire also exited Sunday with a 3-1 mark.
UW-Oshkosh 5, Hamline 2
A five-run Titans second inning was too much for the Pipers to overcome.
Freshman Gabby Tuhy led off the third inning with a single, and eventual scored off Amber Peterson's fielder's choice to narrow the score to 5-1. Hamline came up with two-out magic in the fifth inning courtesy of Abigail Carlson, who registered a base hit and advanced to second off Jenna Rubbelke's single before she scored on an outfield error to put the score at 5-2.
Six different Pipers tallied a hit. Theresa Klinnert and Dana Rosbacka collectively surrendered 10 hits, four earned runs, and just two walks in the pitching circle for Hamline.
Hannah Ritter and Brianna Davis each tallied a pair of hits for the Titans, while Mia Crotty allowed five runs and struck out four over six innings of pitching work. Sydney Nemetz came through with two strikeouts in the pitching save for Oshkosh.
UW-Eau Claire 3, Hamline 0
All three Blugold runs in the contest occurred in the third inning. The Pipers pushed out just three hits in the contest, led by Tuhy's 2-for-3 day that included a double. Gabby Cook notched Hamline's other hit in the game, also a double.
Kira Krueger gave up five hits, three earned runs, and one walk over five innings in the circle for Hamline before Megan Rubbelke, Rosbacka, and Klinnert each logged one inning of relief.
Chloe Garafalo paced Eau Claire at the plate with a 2-for-4 outing, while Abbey Cook allowed just two hits over five innings in the pitching victory. Lauren Gamme picked up the two-inning save for the Blugolds.
The Pipers will return to action on Tuesday, March 15, when they open The Spring Games in Clermont, Florida against Ripon at 10:45 a.m. (ET), and Salem State at 1:15 p.m. (ET).
