Hamline scored 33 runs in 13-1/2 innings, as the Pipers defeated North Central (Minn.) by scores of 17-2 and 16-0 to open the season.

In the first game of the doubleheader, Hamline played the role of the visitors on the scoreboard, but made itself at home in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome from the first inning. Shortstop Dan Kaczrowski hit a lead-off single on the first pitch of the night and scored the first run. Cory Miller singled and later scored the second run of the game for the Pipers. Bill Sand also scored in the opening inning to put the Pipers up 3-0. This was all offense the Pipers would need as Matt Mullendore, Cass Kreitlow, and Kent Hulls combined for a four-hitter.

In game two, Kaczrowski hit a lead-off double and the Pipers put three runs on the board in the first inning. They added four each in the second, fourth and fifth innings to go up 15-0, and added one more in the sixth. Kaczrowski ended up 7-for-9 on the night with a home run, two doubles and six RBI.

In other action: Drew Maddox led Millsaps to its sixth-straight win to open the season. Maddox recorded his second win while only giving up two hits in five innings, as the Majors defeated Huntingdon 13-10 on Wednesday afternoon at Twenty Field. Tony Malaschak went 2-for-4, hitting his first home run of the season, while driving in four runs in addition to three other Majors with multiple RBIs. Malaschak also became the eighth Major this year to hit a home run. Chad Green led the offensive attack for the Hawks, going 1-for-4 with a three-run home run to left in the third inning, while four players had multiple hits. Millsaps started the week with consecutive wins over Piedmont, 6-5 on Monday and 11-7 on Tuesday.

Bethany Lutheran and North Central (Minn.) met at the Metrodome for a doubleheader early in the week, with Bethany Lutheran throwing a no-hitter in the first game, a 7-0 win (photo gallery). Bethany Lutheran pitchers struck out 12 Rams' hitters and were perfect through 5-1/3 innings. The second game of the doubleheader played out similarly, with Bethany's pitching and defense led the way. Despite one error, Bethany made the defensive plays needed and shut down the Rams on their way to a 10-1 win (photo gallery).

David Gaines Jr. continued his hot hitting Tuesday, as he went 2-4 with a homer and two RBI in a Lynchburg 6-1 non-conference victory over Averett from Owen-Fulton Field. Lynchburg posted three-run innings in both the second and third stanzas to give the Hornets a 6-0 lead on a day the pitching was stellar. Starter Bryan Breedlove went four and two-thirds innings, allowing only one run on five hits. Conner Thompson shined, as he picked up his second win of the season thanks to three and a third near-flawless innings of relief. Chris Colquhoun chalked up his third consecutive multi-hit game to start the season, going 2-4 with two runs scored, while Matt Painter had a pair of singles in three at-bats. Averett got two-hit games out of Jacob Waller and Adam Higgins, who both went 2-4 on the afternoon. John Walker threw three innings of scoreless relief for the Cougars.

Howard Payne opened its 2009 season with an 8-5 road win over Southwestern on Wednesday. The Jackets got three RBI from junior Kyle Lloyd and two RBI from freshman DH Garrett Isom. Howard Payne used five pitchers in the game and gave up 14 Southwestern hits. The Jacket defense was error free while Southwestern committed two.

Roanoke swept Virginia Intermont to claim its first two victories of the season, 7-6 and 17-6 at Kiwanis Field on Tuesday. The Maroons improved to 2-1. In the first game of the doubleheader, Roanoke scored in the second, fourth, seventh and eighth innings to seal their first win of the season. Six Maroons had a hit in the contest including a walk-off homer from Patrick Collins in the bottom of the seventh. Jay Laramore also hit his first home run of his Roanoke career. Roanoke came out stronger offensively in the second game, scattering 15 hits and scored in every inning highlighted by a seven-run fifth inning. The Maroons jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the first four innings and never looked back, scoring 13 runs in the final two innings.

LaGrange opened the home portion of the 2009 schedule with a 10-5 win over Oglethorpe at Cleaveland Field on Tuesday. The win was the second straight for the Panthers, now 2-2. It was the season opener for the Stormy Petrels. The Panthers had 15 hits in the game with the first four hitters in the lineup accounting for 11 of the hits. Eric Heath, Ben Hudson and Robbie Shelton each had three hits for LaGrange.

In the SCIAC on Tuesday, La Verne dropped a game to Cal Poly Pomona, 3-1 and Azusa Pacific defeated Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 20-3 in non conference action. Cal Lutheran stayed unbeaten with another lopsided win over La Sierra, 29-8 on Wednesday.