CLERMONT, FLA.—The Hamline University softball team wrapped-up their spring trip in Clermont, Florida on Monday, when they faced Bates and Allegheny. The Pipers stormed back from a 6-2 fourth-inning deficit with five unanswered runs en route to a 7-6 victory over Bates, capped by Raelyn Costley's walk-off bunt single in the seventh inning that scored Gabby Tuhy. The final outing of spring break resulted in a 2-1 decision over Allegheny.
Hamline improves to 9-4 overall. Bates fell to 0-3, while Allegheny saw it's record go to 2-6.
Hamline 7, Bates 6
Bates held a 6-2 advantage heading into the fifth inning, where Hamline tacked on a run off Gabby Cook's sacrifice fly that scored Amber Peterson to cut the score to 6-3. Costley narrowed Hamline's deficit to 6-4 in the sixth inning when she singled, advanced to third base on Jenna Rubbelke's double, and scored on Megan Rubbelke's bases-loaded groundout.
The seventh inning began with Cook's double, and Klinnert's walk. They each scored when Gabby Tuhy laid down a bunt that was picked up by the Bates pitcher and thrown into foul territory, which knotted the score at 6-6. Tuhy moved to third on Lydia Lecher's sacrifice bunt, before she scored a walk-off run on Costley's bunt single that made things final at 7-6.
Jenna Rubbelke and Costley each went 2-for-4 at the plate with a run scored for a Hamline team that was out-hit 16-8 in the contest.
Dana Rosbacka pitched the first three innings for Hamline, while Klinnert picked up the winning decision over the final four frames. They collectively struck out eight batters and walked just one.
Hamline 2, Allegheny 1
Kira Krueger allowed six hits, one run; and registered two strikeouts in the complete-game pitching victory for Hamline. Krueger helped herself with a first-inning infield single that scored Jenna Rubbelke, which gave Hamline a 1-0 lead. This was set up by Jenna Rubbelke's lead-off single, and Megan Rubbelke's double.
A dropped fly ball by Allegheny in the fifth inning sent Megan Rubbelke, who singled, home from second base to push Hamline's lead to 2-0. Joplin Osgood's seventh-inning solo home run cut Hamline's lead in half at 2-1, where things stayed final.
Megan Rubbelke went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double.
The Pipers will return to action on Saturday, April 2 at St. Scholastica (DH) for a 1 p.m. game time.
