TUCSON, AZ. – Following a series of wins over the weekend, the Wesleyan baseball team was struck down by Hamline University on Tuesday afternoon in a 8-5 loss, despite leading by nearly four early runs, during the second week of their Spring Break trip to Tucson, Arizona from the Kino Sports Complex.
The non-conference matchup cruised through the first inning as neither team was able to gain much traction, striking out without a batter on any bases. Freshman pitcher
Shamus Kelly, who led the Cardinals from the mound through six innings, struck out one before the Cardinals managed to get a run on the board at the top of the second.
The first to base was
Connor Sullivan '26 on a walk to first, advancing to second with
Luke LaSaracina '25 singling to center field. Sullivan moved again, scoring the first run of the game as
Jake Acker '27 reached on an error by the third baseman.
Scoring three more runs in the third,
Ernie Little '26 led the charge for the Cardinals with a ground ball to second base before stealing second.
Jack Carpenter '25 placed Little on third with a line drive to left field but Little's run came as
Evan Diaz '25 hit out through the right side. Diaz was the next to score, pushed to third by Sullivan and LaSaracina, scoring as Acker was hit by Piper's pitcher Finn Melchior. With bases loaded,
James Marsden's '26 ground ball gave Sullivan the fourth run of the game.
The Pipers caught the Cardinals in the fourth inning, tying the game up at four runs. Kyle Vanek doubled, giving Caden Erickson the first run for the Pipers. Ryan Burley, who was initially hit by Kelly, cut the score in half before Tyler Johnson singled through the left side to send both Vanek and Jacob Barmore home.
Taking the lead by just one run at the top of the sixth, Acker singled on a bunt to third base and continued on as Marsden and Boudreau were marked out. Acker's run came at the hands Little hitting a double drive out right.
The Pipers took their first and winning lead of the game as Ethan Smith singled up the middle for the double RBI as the Pipers had the bases loaded. Barmore on third and Jacob Hasapopoulos on second earning the runs. The Pipers' lead increased to three runs to close out the game. Grant Peltier tripled and scored with Johnson singling left. Johnson was the final score for the Pipers, reaching the plate on an Erickson double.
Sullivan led the Cardinals with two runs on just one hit. Taking the loss was Kelly, who struck out six through his six innings. Kelly allowed six runs and nine hits.
Dariusz Lukowski '27 pitched just over one inning behind Kelly, allowing two runs and five hits while striking out two.
The Cardinals return to action on Thursday, March 20, for a 5:30 p.m. EST meeting with Macalester.
