CLERMONT, FLA.—A rare three-game day was upon the Hamline University softball team in Clermont, Florida on Thursday as they faced Farmingdale State (N.Y.), Salem State, and Simpson. The Pipers' 1-2 record on the day consisted of a 10-2 loss to Farmingdale State, a 9-0 (6 Innings) win over Salem State, and an 8-4 loss to Simpson.
The Pipers ended the day with a 3-4 overall record.
Farmingdale State 10, Hamline 2
The Rams took a 5-0 lead thanks to a run in the second, and a four-run fourth inning. Lydia Lecher delivered Hamline's lone two runs in the game with a home run that also scored Gabby Tuhy, who led off with a single, to make the score 5-2.
The final two innings saw Farmingdale add five more runs en route to a 10-2 victory.
The Rams offense pounded 15 hits against the Pipers' five. Amber Peterson went 2-for-3 for Hamline;Â while Megan Rubbelke, Tuhy, and Lecher (home run) each registered a hit.
Dana Rosbacka was tagged with the pitching loss for Hamline as she gave up six hits, three runs, and walked no batters over the first 3 1/3 innings before Theresa Klinnert came in relief for the remainder of the contest.
Hamline 9, Salem State 0
Klinnert rebounded in the pitching circle in game two, as she allowed just four hits and no walks throughout the opening four innings. Megan Rubbelke allowed just two hits in two innings of relief for Hamline, who took a 3-0 lead in the second inning thanks to four Vikings errors in the frame.
The Pipers grew their lead to 6-0 with a three-run third inning that began with back-to-back singles from Klinnert and Gabby Cook. Raelyn Costley later knocked-in Klinnert with a single, which made the score 4-0. Jenna Rubbelke later drove-in Costley and Cook with a two-run single to widen the margin to 6-0.
The fifth inning resulted in one Pipers run as Jenna Rubbelke's single scored Costley, who also singled, to make the score 7-0. The eight-run mercy rule came into play with a two-run sixth inning thanks to an RBI-single from Lainey Wier, and Abigail Carlson's sacrifice fly. Megan Rubbelke and Klinnert scored on the plays, respectively, to make it 9-0.
Jenna Rubbelke, Megan Rubbelke, Klinnert, and Costley each notched a pair of hits for a Hamline team that totaled 12 in the game.
Simpson 8, Hamline 4
Home runs from Alexis Ehlers and Karlie Hill (2) powered Simpson to an 8-0 lead after three innings. Seven of those runs occurred in the third inning, before Pipers pitcher Dana Rosbacka retired all 12 batters she faced over the final four innings in relief.
The Hamline offense supported Rosbacka with four runs over that time frame. Kira Krueger and Gabby Tuhy began the fourth inning with back-to-back singles, and would narrow their team's deficit to 8-2 when Lydia Lecher reached on an outfield error. Megan Rubbelke's two-run home run in the fifth that also scored Amber Peterson, who reached on a fielder's choice, cut Simpson's lead in half at 8-4.
Krueger pitched the first three innings before Rosbacka allowed no base runners over the last four.
Jenna Rubbelke and Megan Rubbelke (home run) each went 2-for-4 at the plate for the Pipers, who matched Simpson's hit total of eight.
Hamline will return to action on Saturday, March 19 in Clermont, Florida against Lawrence (Wis.) at 3:45 p.m. (ET), and Buffalo State (N.Y.) at 6 p.m. (ET).
