St. Paul, Minn.- The Macalester College baseball team defeated Hamline University 9-8 in an exciting game to earn the series win over the Pipers. Macalester improves to 5-8 (5-8 MIAC) while Hamline falls to 6-13 (3-5 MIAC).
 
The Macalester offense was firing on all cylinders as the Scots tallied 14 hits and scored nine runs. Macalester scored a run in every inning except the second. The Scots scored two runs in the top of the first inning after both first year Matt Odom (Glendale, Calif./St. Francis) and sophomore Kenny Rodriguez (Bronx, N.Y./George School) both walked and later scored on a double from junior Anthony Palma (Moorseville, N.C./Lake Norman). Odom then scored again on a double down left field line from junior Michael Moreno (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) in the bottom of the third inning to make the score 3-1.
 
The Pipers scored one run in the top of the fourth inning and senior Jack Sahargun (Coto De Caza, Calif./Tesoro) answered with a solo blast to left center to extend the lead to 4-1. Hamline tied the game at 5-5 in the top of the sixth before Macalester regained the lead on a Rodriguez single that plated Odom.
 
Hamline turned around and took a 7-6 lead into the bottom of the seventh. The Scots responded with two runs in the bottom of the seventh on a two RBI single from Odom to take an 8-7 lead. In the bottom of the eighth inning, junior Lian Lincoln (Anchorage, Alaska/South Anchorage) doubled to left field then score the crucial ninth run of the ballgame on a passed ball which proved to be the difference maker.
 
Sophomore Joey Clark (Burbank, Calif./Burbank) threw two innings out of the bullpen and earned his first collegiate win for the Scots. Clark gave up one run and allowed three hits with his lone strikeout of the outing coming from the last batter of the game.
 
Macalester will head to Winona, MN to take on Saint Mary's University for a MIAC double-header on April, 21.