ST. JOSEPH, Minn. — The Hamline Pipers (5-29, 2-16) faced the College of Saint Benedict (29-9, 19-1) in a doubleheader on Wednesday, falling 9–1 in the first game and then 9–5 in the second.
In the first game, the Pipers managed four hits, including a double, but could not overcome Saint Benedict's offensive output. Saint Benedict jumped ahead in the first inning when Olivia Van Hout singled, stole two bases, and scored on an error. Another run followed due to a misplay, giving Saint Benedict a 2–0 lead.
Hamline responded in the second inning with
Brennan Reid's single and
Mikenna Johnson's double, which advanced Reid to third.
Brie Bakke brought Reid home with a groundout, narrowing the score to 5–1 after Saint Benedict added three runs in their half of the inning.
The game remained scoreless through the third to fifth innings, despite a few hits from the Pipers. In the sixth, Saint Benedict extended its lead with a home run by Tuscany Ballot, alongside additional runs from errors and a single by Cat Smetana, concluding the game at 9–1.
Mikenna Johnson led the offense with two hits, including a double, while
Brennan Reid contributed a hit and a run scored.
Montana Miller provided relief on the mound, pitching 3 2/3 innings with two strikeouts.
Brie Bakke drove in a run, adding to the team's efforts.
Allison Boynton started, allowing 5 runs on 2 hits with 4 walks in 2 innings.
In the second game, Hamline tallied 10 hits, including three doubles, but again faced an uphill battle against Saint Benedict's early scoring. The Bennies established a lead early, scoring three unearned runs in the first inning, initiated by Olivia Tautges scoring on a sacrifice fly from Lauren Freeberg, with Lily Treml and Cat Smetana also scoring due to errors.
Saint Benedict continued its momentum into the second inning, adding three more runs. Olivia Van Hout scored on a single by Treml, and Smetana drove in two more with her own single, extending the lead to 6–0.
However, Hamline showed signs of life in the fourth inning.
Josephine Cariveau singled and later scored on a triple by
Brennan Reid, who was then brought home on an RBI groundout by
Mikenna Johnson. Despite this, Saint Benedict responded with three runs, highlighted by a sacrifice fly from Freeberg and a double from Tuscany Ballot, making the score 9–2.
In the sixth, Reid's double led to a run scored on a groundout by
Ava Kellas, cutting the deficit to 9–3. Late in the seventh inning, Hamline added two more runs; Cariveau doubled to bring home
Abigail Chamernick, and
Maddie Johnson followed suit with another double to score Cariveau. Despite the late surge, the game concluded with a final score of 9–5 in favor of Saint Benedict.
Cariveau led the offense in the second game, scoring two runs and collecting two hits, including a double. Reid had a standout performance with three hits, scoring two runs and adding both a double and a triple.
Maddie Johnson contributed with an RBI on her double.
Natalee Boelk pitched a complete game, allowing 8 hits and 7 earned runs while walking 7 batters, bringing her season record to 1-10.
