Hamline University Athletics

Alli Ruter is going out in style. The senior third sacker came up with key hits last week as the Hamline softball team finished second in the MIAC for the first time in school history. They will open the conference tournament Friday at 5:00 p.m. against Gustavus Adolphus -- a team that won't be particularly anxious to face the New London, MN nativge again. 

That's because Ruter unloaded a three-run homer in the top of the seventh off GAC ace Hannah Heacox to lift the Pipers to a 5-2 win. It was her second longball of the season -- and it could not have come at a better time. Hamline ended the MIAC season with a 17-5 record, one game behind first place Bethel.

Two days before her heroics in St. Peter, Ruter helped end a three-game losing streak when she knocked in a pair of runs in a 4-1 win over UW-River Falls in her final game ever at Meredith Field.

For the season, Ruter is batting .292 with 18 RBIs. She and her teammates will take an overall mark of 25-11 a non-conference twin test Tuesday at UW-Stout. Then they start their quest for a first ever MIAC postseason title -- and a berth in the NCAA Division III tournament -- Friday against the Gusties. The tournament is being played at Bethel University.