DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - The Loras College Softball team opened up Iowa Conference play at Faber-Clark Field on Tuesday. Battling No. 5 Luther College, the Duhawks kept the games close early before fading late and falling 13-4 and 8-0, snapping their six-game win streak.

Retiring Luther (22-0, 2-0) in order to start the game, the Duhawks (11-11, 0-2) rallied in the opening frame. Sophomore Danielle Stromert kicked the inning off with a walk before advancing to third on a bunt single by freshman Regan Wolverton. With Stromert standing on third, Wolverton used her wheels to swipe second. Junior Julie Kistner stepped into the batter's box with two on and no outs, looking to register an RBI for the second consecutive game. A great piece of situational hitting, Kistner's slow roller to the right side allowed Stromert to score from third and Wolverton to advance. Senior Katie Serpico capped the inning with a sacrifice fly to deep center field, giving Loras an early 2-0 edge through one inning.

Luther cut Loras' lead to one in the second before leveling the score at two in the third.

While the Duhawks stranded five over the next two innings, Luther carried an 8-2 lead into Loras' part of the fifth.

Stromert reached on a single before advancing on a laser to center field by Wolverton. With two on ahead of her, Kistner walked, allowing Serpico to cash in on another sacrifice opportunity, pulling the Duhawks within five.

The Norse extended their lead to 13-4 in the seventh, brining about the Duhawks final three outs.

Going down fighting, Kistner earned a leadoff walk. After Serpico singled, freshman Bria Lenten drew a walk to load the bases for junior Makaila Haase with one out. Behind in the count early, Haase battled back before drilling a ball deep to left field, allowing Kistner to tag and score. Unfortunately for the Duhawks, their seventh inning rally ended there as they fell 13-4.

Held without a hit until freshman Savannah Fowler used her speed to beat out a throw for a bunt single in the third, the Duhawks found themselves trailing 2-0. Unable to rally after Fowler's two-out single, Loras headed to the fourth trailing by two.

Luther tacked on three in the fourth and two in the fifth, as the Duhawks failed to capitalize on leadoff hits. Kistner singled through the left side to open the bottom of the fourth but was stranded as the three batter's following her were retired.

After Luther extended their lead to 8-0 in the fifth, freshman Miranda Chapman laced a shot to the fence in right field for a lead off double. Advancing on a wild pitch, Chapman moved into third with senior Nora Zerante at the plate. Working the count for a walk, Loras put runner's on first and third. Stromert stepped to the dish with one out but was beamed before she could swing the bat, loading the bases for Wolverton. A slap down the line by Wolverton was played perfectly by Luther's first basemen, throwing out Chapman at the plate. With the bases juiced, a pop out to second base ended the Duhawks threat and the game, 8-0.

Game Changer
Luther outscored Loras 8-1 in the fifth inning, never surrendering their leads

Key Stat
Loras was held without a home run … Luther recorded three on the day

Notables

• Held without a home run, the Duhawks' streak of seven consecutive games with at least one dinger came to an end
• Loras held the Iowa Conference's best hitter coming into the day, Hiliary Pennington to one hit in nine at bats 
• Sophomore Danielle Stromert has reached base in all 22 games this season
• Senior Holly Klein threw a career-high 150 pitches in game one
• Junior Makaila Haase's streak of six consecutive starts without a loss came to a close, as she earned the loss on the mound in game two

Quotable
Ashley Winter, head coach

"I think Luther's experience showed today. We had some positive moments though - scoring first, starting the games with intensity. I thought we did a great job of handling Hiliary Pennington. We just need to continue to focus on the little things and control the things we can control. Even though the score doesn't necessarily reflect it, there are a lot of positive take aways from today."

Up Next
Loras returns to the diamond on Thursday when they take a trip up Loras Blvd. to take on the Spartans of the University of Dubuque. First pitch of the Duhawks' annual "Strikeout Cancer" game is set for 3 p.m.