JACKSONVILLE, Ill. (Duhawks.com) – The bats quieted down for Loras Baseball (5-5) on Sunday as they were handed a loss to Hamline University (5-5) 20-9 after just seven innings of play. Sophomore Tony Heiser led the team offensively in the early afternoon portion of their double-header with a two-run home run in the second inning. Heiser would go on to add a double and sacrifice fly to his weekend totals.

Junior Patrick Walsh looked to make another impressive start following a dominant performance against MSOE in Florida. Unfortunately for Walsh, the Pipers were ready for his best, as they were able to hit four home runs off of Walsh en route to the victory. While Loras maintained their early lead, Walsh did a great job of getting out of jams. Following each of the home runs he allowed, Walsh responded with a strikeout.

Despite a 20-9 defeat, the Duhawks' offense played well against Hamline. Prior to Heiser's two-run home run, junior Spence Bonner led off the second inning with a double. Loras also displayed supreme patience, drawing multiple walks when it mattered the most.

Following a walk to load the bases from junior Lucas Jacque, freshman Dan Pecoraro drew a walk as well to bring home a run. Sophomore Cole Reeg then singled in two of the remaining base runners to increase the Duhawks second inning lead to 5-0.

The bats kept swinging to start the third inning when Heiser led off with a double. He wouldn't be on base for long as sophomore Luke Leibforth wasted no time hitting a sacrifice fly to bring him home. On the defensive side of the ball, senior Adam Kennedy saved what could have been Hamline's fifth home run of the game in the bottom of the third. With men on base, a ball was hit to deep left field in the direction of Kennedy who tracked it down at the warning track and kept the ball from clearing the fence.

Walsh settled down in the fourth inning, which allowed the Duhawks to retake the lead on a Heiser sacrifice fly heading into the fifth. Walsh had given up two base hits to start the inning, but a handful of strikeouts prevented the Pipers from scoring.

Inning number five proved difficult for the Duhawks as a series of costly errors allowed the game to get out of hand. The game was tied at nine following a play in which the ball bounced out of the glove of Reeg and over the fence for a three-run home run. Loras tried to change pitchers to give the Pipers a different look, but a passed ball from senior Kody Massner and an errant throw from Bonner allowed three more of Hamline's batters to score, bringing about the mercy rule.

In the night cap, the Duhawks fell to the MacMurray College Highlanders (3-5), 17-10. Once again, Loras started the game off hot, but faded down the stretch.

Sunday night's starter was senior Will Petrosky, who breezed through the first inning, allowing no runs. Petrosky then ran into trouble in the second and fourth innings. Over the course of these two innings the senior allowed 10 total runs. Petrosky's command wavered over the course of his outing, allowing four batters to reach on balls while hitting one.

In relief of Petrosky, freshman Robert Hovey tossed three scoreless innings prior to running into some trouble of his own. In three innings, Hovey struck out five batters while walking none. He would eventually leave the game after allowing two consecutive base runners.

Senior Adam Kennedy continued his hot start to the season, opening the game up in the first inning with a towering three-run home run to give the Duhawks a 3-0 lead. Bonner continued the RBI trend in the second, as his double plated Heiser and Walsh.

Neither team had much offense going in the middle portion of the game, but a huge eighth inning secured the victory for the Highlanders. Senior Connor Schreck allowed five earned runs in his first appearance of the weekend.

Loras showed resiliency during the bottom of the eighth, touching up Kyler Smith for four earned runs and five hits over .2 innings of play. The Duhawks kept the bases loaded for a majority of the inning before finally being sent down on a ground ball to first base.

Junior Nick Petruzzi finished the game on the mound for Loras, with two walks and two strikeouts.