BOXSCORE 1 | BOXSCORE 2 ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Gordon Kappers (JR, Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North HS) went 4-for-9 at the plate with a double, two RBI and two runs scored in the doubleheader, as his Augsburg College baseball team split two extra-inning contests in a Minnesota Intercollegiate athletic Conference doubleheader against Hamline University on Thursday afternoon at Midway Stadium.

Augsburg (8-10 overall, 2-2 MIAC) won the first game 5-4 in nine innings, and Hamline (7-8 overall, 1-4 MIAC) won the second game 7-6 in nine innings.

Kappers went 3-for-5 in the first game with a double, driving in a run and scoring a run. He went 1-for-4 in the second game with a run scored and an RBI. Abe Welckle (JR, Minneapolis, Minn./South HS), Andrew Douglas (FY, Eastvale, Calif./Roosevelt HS) and Tyler "Jonesy" Buescher (FY, Prior Lake, Minn.) had three hits each in the doubleheader.

The Auggies held a 3-2 lead after four innings in the first game, but Hamline tied the game with a run in the bottom of the seventh inning, forcing extra innings. Both teams scored a run in the eighth inning, and Augsburg took the lead in the ninth, as Adam Carl (SR, Eagan, Minn.) walked and came around to score on an RBI single by Douglas.

Steven Piette (SO, Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial HS) picked up the pitching win in the first game for the Auggies with four innings of relief, striking out four while walking one. Starter Tyler Flakne (JR, Fridley, Minn./Totino-Grace HS) had five strikeouts against three walks in three innings of work, with Ryn Minder (JR, Maplewood, Minn./Roseville HS) striking out two in two innings of relief.

Trailing 1-0, the Auggies took a 2-1 lead with a two-run third inning. Kappers singled and scored following a fielding error, and Douglas hit an RBI single to drive home Piette. The Pipers tied the game with a run in the bottom of the third, but Augsburg went ahead again in the fourth, as a double by Kappers plated Buescher. Buescher drove in a run on a single in the top of the eighth inning, but Hamline tied the game in the botton of the frame.

Cam Smith and Harley Thompson had two hits each for Hamline in the first game, with Smith driving in two runs and Thompson driving in a run. Matt Connell scored two runs and drove in another for the Pipers.

In the second game, the Auggies rallied from a 6-1, third-inning deficit with a five-run fifth inning, sending nine batters to the plate and collecting six hits, tying the game at 6-6. RBI singles by Kappers, Welckle and Douglas plated runs for the Auggies in the inning, along with an RBI double by Carl. Augsburg's other run came in the second inning, as Billy Brookshaw (SO, Prescott, Wis.) plated Welckle on a single.

The Pipers claimed the win in the bottom of the ninth inning. Connell led off the inning with a triple, and after Augsburg loaded the bases on two intentional walks, a walk to Smith drove home the game-winning run. Connell was 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored for Hamline in the second game, while Andy Sammon also went 3-for-4, driving in a run and scoring twice.

John Gallice (JR, St. Louis Park, Minn.) struck out seven while walking three in five innings of relief for the Auggies. Jordan Petschke (JR, Fairmont, Minn.) started, with Minder throwing a third of an inning of relief prior to Gallice.

Augsburg returns to MIAC play on Saturday (4/12) at 1 p.m., hosting Saint John's at Parade Stadium.