ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Hamline overcame a four-run deficit in game one to earn a 5-4 win in eight innings and carried the momentum into game two, sweeping Macalester with a 14-2 victory.
The Scots got off on the right foot in game one when
Sam Berk homered to left-center field to lead off the second inning. He would account for Macalester's second run when he scored, after singling, on
Collin Brantner's double.
Phillip Stuhr doubled home Brantner and scored when
Nick Sia reached on a bunt single and saw the throw go into right field.
The Pipers tied the game in their half of the fourth inning when they loaded the bases and a walk to Andy Sammon plated one run and a dropped fly ball off the bat of Tyler Summers with two out cleared the bases as all four Hamline runs were uneared and Scot pitcher
Joseph Aulisi got through the inning with a no hitter intact.
Macalester had a chance to win the game in the seventh when Sia walked and was sacrificed to second base by
Jonathan Melms. However, Nicholas Rosier got out of the inning with a pair of strikeouts to end the threat.
Hamline won the game in the eight inning when Matt Connell led off frame with a triple. Dan Moro was intentionally walked before Aulisi got Jacob Picht on a strikeout. Evan Cordell then came to the plate and fouled off one two-strike pitch before lofting a fly ball over a drawn in outfield to end the game.
Berk had two hits for the Scots while scoring twice to lead the team's offense. Aulisi pitched Macalester's first complete game of the season, allowing just three hits and one earned run over seven and one-third innings while walking four and striking out seven.
Game two saw the hosts score twice in the first inning before a five-run outburst in the second gave them a comfortable lead as they cruised to a 12-run win.
Berk went 3-for-3 with two doubles in the game, having entered the day ninth nationally with 13 two-base hits. On the day he was 5-for-7 with three extra-base hits.
Quentin Stuart added a pair of hits.
Macalester is back in action, Saturday, when they host Saint Mary's in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
