ARDEN HILLS, MINN.—The Hamline University baseball team defeated Bethel for the first time since 2021 by a score of 6-5 in game one, and dropped game two 12-0 (7 Innings) in Arden Hills on Saturday afternoon.
Hamline's last win over Bethel was a 7-3 decision on April 6, 2021.
The Pipers move to 13-18, 5-7 MIAC, while the Royals go to 14-12, 7-6 MIAC.
Hamline 6, Bethel 5 (Game One)
Two lead changes occurred in game one. Hamline struck first with a four-run second inning thanks to Jacob Barmore's three-run home run, followed by a solo home run from Kaleb Corcoran that pushed their lead to 4-0.Â
Back-to-back doubles from Zach Thompson and Alex Call narrowed Bethel's deficit to 4-1 in the fifth inning. Call reached the next two bases, third and home, on back-to-back groundouts, which cut Hamline's lead in half at 4-2.Â
Thompson's bases-loaded triple in the sixth inning put Bethel in front 5-4.
The Royals retired Hamline's second and third batters in the seventh inning. That didn't stop the Pipers from producing two-out magic with Kyle Vanek at second base, who pinch ran following Aleksander Popovic's single. This set up Max Gerstner's RBI single that scored Vanek and tied the game 5-5, before Caden Erickson's RBI-double that scored Gertsner gave Hamline a 6-5 lead.
Hamline out hit Bethel 8-5.
Erickson went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI, a stolen base, and a walk as the lone multi-hit Piper. Barmore's three-run home run highlighted his 1-for-2 outing, while Corcoran's home run made up his 1-for-3 performance.
Parker Leipzig allowed two hits, just one walk, two runs, and notched four strikeouts over the opening five innings. Dalton Maxwell secured the winning decision in the sixth inning, before Josh Cary locked down the save in the seventh frame.Â
Bethel 12, Hamline 0 (7 Innings) (Game Two)
Bethel led from start-to-finish, out hit Hamline 15-4, and had six extra-base hits, which included two home runs en route to a 12-0 shutout.
The Royals got at least one hit from 8-of-9 individuals in their starting lineup. Their pitching was all Hinter Jackson, who allowed just four hits and notched seven strikeouts in a complete-game shutout.
Finn Melchior led Hamline with a 2-for-3 outing at the plate, while Caden Erickson was 1-for-2 with a double and a walk. Nick Zezulka also had a hit.
Xavier Bembnister, Carter Hoff, Luke Schmaedeke, and Cole Vandenhuevel all pitched for Hamline.
The Pipers will host Carleton (DH) at CHS Field on Monday, April 22 at 2:30 p.m.
