SAINT PAUL, MINN.—The Hamline University baseball team squared-off against Bethel (DH) at CHS Field on Thursday, where they dropped a pair of games by scores of 15-1 (7 Innings) and 8-4.
The Pipers end the day with a 7-19, 1-9 MIAC record, while Bethel improves to 23-4, 10-2 MIAC.
Bethel 15, Hamline 1 (7 Innings)
Hamline's lone run occurred in the seventh inning, where Caden Erickson reached on a fielder's choice and later scored on Max Gerstner's single to narrow the score to 15-1. Bethel's nine-run fifth inning proved to be the salt on the wound for Hamline in a 15-1 loss.
The Royals pounded 19 hits in the contest against the Pipers' four. Gerstner led Hamline at the plate with a 2-for-3 outing. Six individuals toed the pitching rubber for the Pipers, as they combined to give up 19 hits and 15 runs. James Woelfel had a big day at the plate for Bethel with a 4-for-4 game that included three runs scored.
Bethel 8, Hamline 4
The Royals set the tone with a 3-0 first-inning lead, which stagnated until they added another score in the fourth inning that widened the margin to 4-0. Hamline registered their first run in the fourth inning courtesy of Cullen Buck, who doubled down the left field line, advanced to third on Mac Enlow's groundout, and scored on Caden Erickson's groundout to make things 4-1.
The Royals' last four runs occurred in the six inning en route to an 8-1 lead. Mac Enlow led off the bottom half of that inning with a solo home run that narrowed the score to 8-2.
Hamline produced late-game magic with two outs in the ninth inning, where back-to-back singles from Avery Nelson and Braeden Bourne set up Owen Christenson's pinch-hit RBI-single that scored Nelson to narrow the margin to 8-3. Bourne made the score 8-4 when he scored on a wild pitch.
Bourne led Hamline with a 2-for-4 outing at the dish. Enlow's home run highlighted his 1-for-4 game. Jonah Smallfield relieved Finn Melchior after the first inning, and went on to throw six quality frames. He allowed four hits, and five runs. Ryan Conn pitched the eighth, followed by Spencer Klika in the ninth. The pitching staff combined to give up eight hits and eight runs.
Hamline will have a quick turnaround, as they will host Crown at CHS Field in a single game on Friday, April 22 at 5 p.m.
