DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - Timely hitting and consistent pitching was the key to Baseball's sweep of University of Dubuque (6-12, 1-5 IIAC) on Tuesday night. Senior
Adam Schwoebel threw his third complete game to earn his fifth win of the year while senior
Adam Kennedy took care of the offense in game two with a bases-clearing double.
Turning around on short rest, Schwoebel took the mound for the Duhawks in game one and looked the best he has all season. The O'Fallon, Illinois product had all four of his pitches working and kept the Spartan hitters off balance all game long.
A huge part to Schwoebel's success was the ability to get his first pitch over a strike. Additionally, he wasn't having to rely on his fastball to get him strikes. His 12-6 curve froze right-handed batters multiple times in a number of situations.
Loras (11-9, 6-4 IIAC) got on the board in the bottom of the second inning on a single from sophomore
Luke Leibforth. With two outs and Kennedy at second, Leibforth took the offering from Josh Eastman and sent it through the left side scoring Kennedy.
After a leadoff single from Leibforth in the fifth, the Duhawks placed two bunts down to move Leibforth to third before sophomore
Cole Reeg single to center field. Reeg was thrown out on the play attempting to take second, but Leibforth crossed the plate before Reeg was tagged out to give Loras a 2-0 lead.
With as effective as Schwoebel was on the mound, the two-run lead was all he needed.
A two-out single through the left side by sophomore
Tony Heiser in the bottom of the sixth provided an extra layer of insurance for Loras, scoring junior
Patrick Walsh from third.
Schwoebel finished off the Spartans in the seventh, helping his own cause with a 1-6-3 double play before forcing Dalton Garst to ground out to second to end the game.
Walsh got the start in game two and settled into a groove early, setting Dubuque down in order in the first.
All three of the Duhawks' run came in the bottom of the first after they loaded the bases with two outs. With a full count, Kennedy sliced a double to right field, clearing the bases and giving Loras a 3-0 lead.
The key to Walsh's success on the mound was his ability to work out of jams.
In the second, Dubuque loaded the bases with no outs, but failed to score after Doherty grounded into a 6-3 double play.
After a leadoff walk to Lewan in the fifth, Walsh forced two flyouts before loading the bases once again after a hit by pitch and catcher's interference. Once again, Walsh pitched out of the jam with Salazar flying out to center to end the threat.
Junior
Alex Steines came on in relief in the sixth and made a great pitch to get Florek to pop up in the infield. Unfortunately for Loras, a defensive miscue resulted in an infield error, which ultimately led to the Spartans first run of the day.
Dubuque plated two runs to cut the Loras lead to one on a groundout and a single, but Steines ended the rally by freezing McWhite at the plate with a breaking ball on the inside corner for a called third strike.
The Duhawks had chances throughout the ball game to add to their lead, but missed on opportunities resulting in leaving runners on base.
Senior
Kody Massner came on in relief in the seventh and pitched 2.2 innings of two-hit ball, allowing one hit while striking out three.
With runners on first and second, senior
Connor Schreck was brought on from the bullpen and got Austin Monfross to ground into a fielder's choice to end the ballgame and give Loras the sweep.
Game Changer - Game 1
The Duhawks' ability to hit with two outs single-handedly produced all three of their runs
Game Changer - Game 2
Adam Kennedy's bases-clearing double in the bottom of the first gave Loras all the offense they needed
Key Stat - Game 1
All of Loras' scoring opportunities came as a result of smart baseball and the ability to manufacture runs
Key Stat - Game 2
The Spartans left 13 runners on base to the Duhawks' six … Five of Loras' six runners left on came after the sixth inning
Notables
