DECATUR, ILL.--The Hamline University baseball team faced two challenging outings on Saturday, resulting in a narrow 3-2 defeat against Millikin, and a hard-fought 5-4 (10 innings) victory over the UW-Stout (5-4) at Workman Baseball Stadium in Decatur, Illinois.

The Pipers move to 2-5 on the season.

Millikin 3, Hamline 2 (Game One)

The Pipers showcased strong defense, with both teams remaining scoreless through the first three innings. Early opportunities for Hamline were neutralized by Millikin's defense, including a notable moment when Ryan Burley reached base on an error but was left stranded. The Big Blue broke the deadlock in the sixth inning when Liam McGill reached on an error and later stole third, with Sam Bushur's single driving in McGill for an unearned run, putting Millikin ahead 1-0.

The Pipers responded vigorously in the seventh, scoring two runs to take a 2-1 lead. Grant Peletier and Alexander Hoknson ignited the offense with back-to-back hits, followed by Stevie Schmitt's crucial RBI single scoring Hokenson. Ethan Smith added another RBI single, bringing Schmitt home. However, Millikin tied the game in the ninth off a Hamline error, which set up Kolby Koslofski's single that delivered the winning run for a final score of 3-2. 

Hans Christensen had a standout performance on the mound for Hamline, allowing only one unearned run over six innings with six strikeouts. Ethan Smith led the offense with two hits and an RBI. Alexander Hokenson contributed with a double and a run scored, while Bentley Casey excelled defensively at third base, recording four assists. For Millikin, Zach O'Donnell pitched eight strong innings, striking out ten and allowing six hits and two earned runs, while Hayden Stork made an impact with two doubles.

Hamline 5, UW-Stout 4 (10 innings) (Game Two)

Hamline started on the back foot, with the Blue Devils taking an early lead in the first inning after Ryan Kelly's double brought in two runs. The Pipers quickly narrowed the gap as Ryan Burley tripled and scored on Tyler Johnson's single, making it 2-1. The third inning saw the Pipers tie the game at 2-2 after Bentley Casey walked, advanced on Ryan Burley's single, and scored on Grant Peltier's walk, which brought in an unearned run.

The teams exchanged runs in the fifth, with Burley tying it at 3-3 after scoring on another sacrifice fly from Johnson. The game remained tightly contested until the bottom of the tenth inning when Jacob Hasapopoulos was hit by a pitch to lead off. A series of strategic plays culminated in Owen Giesen's sacrifice fly, allowing Hasapopoulos to score the winning run, sealing a 5-4 victory for Hamline.

Ryan Burley was a standout for the Pipers, with three hits, including a triple, and two runs. Tyler Johnson contributed significantly with two RBIs. Parker Leipzig pitched five innings, notching four strikeouts while Finn Melchior and Cameron Hickox provided solid relief. For UW-Stout, Ryan Kelly excelled with two hits, two RBIs, and stellar defensive contributions, while Kevin Zanin added two hits and a walk.

Overall, Hamline's pitching staff combined for 10 strikeouts across both games, showcasing their resilience despite the tough competition.