Baseball: Hawks open season with three wins at the Metrodome

The Rockhurst Hawks opened the 2010 season with a pair of wins over Bemidji State Saturday night at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minn.

Junior right fielder Ben Baker hit two home runs to lead the Hawks to a 6-2 victory in the first game. Junior catcher Drew Daubman and sophomore first baseman Ryan Porter each collected two hits in the win.

Junior left-hander Jeremy Pope pitched four scoreless innings to pick up his first win of the season. Sophomore right-hander Kirk Huismann threw the final three innings to record the save.

In the second game, junior third baseman Dustin Ladyman singled home the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Hawks a 5-4 victory.

Ladyman’s opposite-field single to right field scored freshman Tyler Gans from third base. Gans, who entered as a pinch runner, stole second and advanced to third base on a passed ball.

Chad Hatcher led off the seventh with a pinch-hit single and came around to score the tying run on a sacrifice fly by Baker.

Freshman right-hander Alex Seier pitched the final inning and two-thirds to become the winning pitcher. Freshman right-hander Mark Sappington only allowed one run over the first five innings.

Sophomore catcher T.J. Dailey drove in two runs with a single to help give the Hawks a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Bemidji State rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh to take a 4-3 lead.

On Sunday, Rockhurst split a doubleheader with Augustana (S.D.) at the Metrodome. The Hawks came back to win the nightcap 14-5 after dropping the first game 13-2.

Mike Walczuk drove in five runs in the win with a three-run double in the third inning and run-scoring singles in the first and fourth. Sean Carter added three RBIs, including a solo home run in the second.

Sophomore right-hander Mark Himmelberg pitched the first five innings to get the win. Freshman right-hander Nick Lichtenberger threw two scoreless innings.

Aug. 18, Atchison, Kan., 6:00 p.m. - Men's Soccer at Benedictine (scrimmage)

Aug. 18, Kansas City, Mo., 4:00 p.m. - Women's Soccer at UMKC (scrimmage)

Aug. 21, Liberty, Mo., 5:30 p.m. - Women's Soccer at William Jewell (scrimmage)

Aug. 21, Liberty, Mo., 7:30 p.m. - Men's Soccer at William Jewell (scrimmage)

Aug. 22, Kansas City, Mo., 7:00 p.m. - Men's Soccer at UMKC (exhibition)

Aug. 29, Kirksville, Mo., 7:30 p.m. - Women's Soccer at Truman State (scrimmage)

Sept. 1, HOME, 4:00 p.m. - Men's & Women's Tennis hosts William Jewell

Sept. 3-4, Topeka, Kan. - Men's & Women's Tennis at Washburn Invitational

Sept. 3-4, HOME - Rockhurst Volleyball Classic

Sept. 3, HOME, 5:00 p.m. - Women's Soccer hosts Baker

Sept. 3, HOME, 7:30 p.m. - Men's Soccer hosts Baker