MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (Duhawks.com) - Timely hitting and lockdown pitching fueled the Loras College Softball team to a doubleheader sweep of Crown in the Augsburg Dome on Saturday morning. Coming back from an early deficit, the Duhawks secured the 7-1 win in game one. In game two, Loras took control from the get go, completing the sweep 5-1.

Crown (0-4) took charge early, capitalizing on a few miscues by the Duhawks (2-2), holding a 1-0 lead through the first inning.

In the home half of the second frame, junior Makaila Haase led off with a single down the right field line. Looking for the sacrifice, freshman Bria Lenten used her wheels to outrun the throw, recording the bunt single. 

With two on and one out, head coach Ashley Winter elected to put sophomore Jenna Scheer in to pinch run for Haase. A wild pitch allowed Lenten and Scheer to advance, putting them both in scoring position.

Looking to drive in a run, sophomore Cate Paulsen smashed a shot to third. The hard hit ball was mishandled, allowing Paulsen to reach safely and Scheer to cross the plate. 

With the score even at one, senior Nora Zerante crushed a bases-clearing double. The deep shot to right lifted the Duhawks to a 3-1 lead.

Zerante's double proved to be the difference but the Duhawks added on insurance in the third and fifth innings. 

In the third, freshman Regan Wolverton laced an rbi-single to center, pushing Loras' lead to 4-1.

Lenten sparked a two-out rally in the fifth for the Duhawks, singling to the left side. After a single by Wolverton, Paulsen tripled to center, bringing in two. Zerante closed out the scoring for Loras, with an rbi-infield single, making the score 7-1 in favor of the Duhawks.

Taking little time to take control, the Duhawks opened game two with a 3-0 lead after two innings of play. 

Fueled by the pitching effort of Haase, the Duhawks defense kept the shutout intact for the first half of the game. 

In the bottom half of the fifth, Crown took advantage of a pair of errors by the Duhawks, breaking the shutout. 

Heading into the seventh with a comfortable 4-1 lead, Haase crushed a home run over the center field fence for the insurance run. 

Freshman Emma Corkill took the mound to close out the win, doing so in impressive fashion. Striking out three straight, Corkill retired the side and sealed the 5-1 win for the Duhawks.

Game Changer
Zerante's double in game one put the Duhawks in front for good … In game two, Loras' ability to score in the first gave them all the cushion they needed

Key Stat
Loras struck out only once on Saturday while their counterparts recorded 13 strikeouts

Notables

• Senior Holly Klein and junior Makaila Haase recorded their first wins of the season. Klein earned the win in game one, Haase took care of Crown in game two
• Freshman Emma Corkill made her Duhawk debut … appearing in both game one and two, Corkill struck out four
• Freshman Briana Minet singled in her first appearance as a Duhawk
• Freshman Bria Lenten went 3-for-4 in game one, scoring twice

Quotable
Ashley Winter, head coach

"Pitching wise I thought we did really well. Being able to use different combinations allowed us to get Emma in the game. As a lefty, Emma offers us a lot of flexibility. Her movement and speed on the mound make her a versatile option for us."

"We did a few different things within our lineup to increase our run production. Overall, we had much better at bats and put better contact on the ball."

Up Next 
The Duhawks enjoy a short break before heading to Tuscon, Arizona to take part in the Tuscon Invitational. Loras takes on Baldin Wallace on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. in their first of eight games in sunny Arizona.