The Dutch (25-8, 6-2) opened Saturday's doubleheader with a two-run single to take a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the first.

Loras (14-14, 3-5) cut the deficit to one in their half of the first, after sophomore Danielle Stromert was beamed to leadoff the inning. Executing in a situational hitting role, freshman Regan Wolverton moved Stromert to second on a bunt before a wild pitch allowed her to stroll into third. With Stromert on third, senior Katie Serpico battled back from a 0-2 count to earn a walk. Serpico's walk put runners on the corners with two outs and brought freshman Bria Lenten to the plate. 

As Lenten dug into the batter's box, Serpico took off from first with hopes of swiping second. A throw by the Dutch caught Serpico in a pickle. Surviving long enough to score Stromert from third, Serpico was eventually tagged out to end the inning.

Central pushed their lead back to two, 3-1, on a RBI-single to left in the second but the Duhawks hung tough, matching the Dutch's scoring efforts. 

A bases loaded walk pull Loras within one, 3-2, through two innings at which point Klein settled in on the mound. With senior Nora Zerante behind the plate, Klein kept the Dutch batter's off-balance in the box and benefited from stellar defensive plays to hold Central scoreless through six innings.

Trailing by one, Chapman blasted a leadoff dinger to level the score at three in Loras' half of the sixth.

With Klein going the distance on the mound, and shutting down the Dutch in the seventh, the Duhawks headed to the bottom of the seventh at level pegging. Serpico opened the frame with a single before being relieved by Klein on the base pads. After a sacrifice bunt by Lenten, Klein moved into scoring position for Haase. 

Behind in the count, Haase laced a zinger up the middle to score Klein from second, ending the game 4-3 in favor of the Duhawks. The win marked Loras' first win over the Dutch since the 2012 season when the Duhawks knocked off No. 6 Central 3-2 in Pella, Iowa.

Stromert led the charge in game two, kick starting the Duhawks offense with a leadoff home run after the Dutch were held scoreless. Lenten followed suit, sending a three-run blast over the field in left field to move Loras' lead to 4-0 after one inning of play.

A two-run single by the Dutch in the second pulled them within two before Loras extended their lead to 5-2 in their half of the second. Leading off with a double to center, Stromert slid home safely on a wild pitch to push Loras' lead to three.

The Dutch battled back within one in the third before Haase was lifted for freshman Tara Shingler. Making her second appearance of the year, Shingler retired three straight batters to maintain Loras 5-4 edge.

Central took the lead in the fourth, 6-5, but Shingler held steady on the mound. After an errant pitch hit the leadoff batter in the fifth, Shingler buckled down to take care of the side without any damage. 

Chapman woke the bats of the Duhawks, leading off the bottom of the fifth with a double to right field. Moving to third on a bunt single by Zerante, Loras had two on with nobody out. One out later, freshman Savannah Fowler singled to the right side. With the shortstop charging to make the play, Chapman took off from third. Putting out Fowler at first, the Dutch first baseman fired to home in hopes of getting Chapman at the plate. A pinpoint throw allowed Central's catcher to lay down a tag, throwing out Chapman at home and bringing the fifth to a close.

Following a spotless inning of work by Klein, Serpico's RBI-single tied the score at six heading into the final inning.

Despite tying the game late the Duhawks ran out of gas as Central exploded in their part of the seventh, taking game two 11-6.

Game Changer
The seventh inning proved to be the difference maker on Saturday … In game one, Hasse's walk-off single lifted the Duhawks to a win while the Dutch exploded for five runs in the seventh of game two

Key Stat
Loras outhit Central 20 to 17 on the day but was plagued by 18 runners on base

Notables

• Senior Holly Klein became the first pitcher since her sister, Kelly Klein to beat the Dutch … Kelly Klein earned the win in Loras' 3-2 win over Central on April 28, 2012
• Freshman Tara Shingler made her home debut, pitching three innings
• Two of freshman Miranda Chapman's three home runs on the season have tied the game at three in the sixth inning
• Saturday's win marked Loras' first win at home over Central since the 2007 season when they topped the Dutch 3-2
• Loras knocked off a nationally ranked opponent at home for the first time since 2005 
• With a 4-3 win in game one, the Duhawks notched their first win of the season in a game decided by two or less runs

Quotable
Ashley Winter, head coach
"I'm very pleased with our effort today, I'm happy with how we came out and fought throughout this doubleheader. We ran out of gas at the end but overall very pleased."

"Tara is a freshman, she has continued to develop confidence. I think that's the biggest thing for her, the more confidence she gets the stronger she gets. I'm very pleased with her effort and ability today."

Bria Lenten, freshman shortstop
"I think we need to play a consistent seven innings every single game. We've been hitting and playing great defense, we just need to do it consistently over seven innings."

Up Next
Loras takes a break from Iowa Conference play with a bout in Madison, Wisconsin. The Duhawks are set to square off against the Edgewood Eagles on Tuesday, the teams' third match up of the season. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.