DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - For the third weekend in a row, the Duhawks opened a weekend series in Iowa Conference play with a split. Late-inning heroics was the story for game one, as Loras responded with three runs in the bottom of the seventh. The Knights swiped game two thanks to a six-run sixth innning, on their way to a 10-6 win.
A leadoff double from Wartburg's Jackson Litterer opened game one for the Knights. After an error by sophomore
Nolan Ritter, which advanced Litterer to third, Ryan Kemp drove in Wartburg's first run of the day on a deep fly ball to center field.
Trailing 1-0, the Duhawks responded immediately with a solo home run to right field by sophomore
Cole Reeg. Loras went 1-2-3 following the four-bagger, but ended the opening frame in a deadlock with the Knights.
Toeing the rubber for the Duhawks in game one was senior
Adam Schwoebel, who had just come off his first loss of the season last Friday against Luther.
Despite allowing nine hits and two walks, Schwoebel limited the Knights to three runs, two earned. In addition to Loras turning two double plays, Schwoebel picked off three Wartburg runners at first.
Robbie Anstoetter started the Knights rally in the top of the fifth, singling through the left side. After a stolen base, a single by Litterer up the middle brought Anstoetter came around to give Wartburg the 2-1 lead.
Wartburg tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh courtesy of a leadoff double by Milton Croes, who later came around to score on a single up the middle by Litterer.
Trailing by two, the Duhawks strung together three singles and two walks, coupled with a Wartburg fielding error, to plate three runs and take the win.
After a two-run single by senior
Anthony Flattery, the Knights intentionally walked junior
Patrick Walsh to load the bases with the winning run on third. On a 3-1 pitch, Wartburg's Gavin Naidermann missed down and away to senior
Spence Bonner to bring home the winning run.
Both teams carried a bit of a hangover into game two, with neither side plating a run through the first two innings.
In the bottom of the third, Reeg singled through the right side with two outs to bring sophomore
Tony Heiser to the plate. On a sequence of plays that can only be described as bizarre, Heiser came all the way around the bases to score on a three-error play.
To start, Heiser lined a shot right at DJ Utley at first base. Utley was unable to come up with the ball, resulting in it bouncing into foul territory out towards right field. Providing backup, Jacob Thumann came running in and overran the ball, allowing Heiser to reach third and Reeg to score.
After Thumann's throw came into the plate, Heiser was aggressive from third and took home without Parker Bolt realizing it until it was too late.
The Knights responded to Loras' early threat by scoring two in the fourth, two in the fifth, and six in the sixth to jump out to a 10-3 lead.
Loras turned to freshman
Robert Hovey after the sixth, and the Marist product performed admirably, keeping the Knights to just one base runner over the final three innings of the game, while striking out two. With his three shutout innings, Hovey dropped his season ERA to 2.16.
Loras had chances to cut into the lead, and drew to within four thanks to one run in the sixth and two runs in the seventh. Over the final three innings, Loras stranded five runners, resulting in a 10-6 win for the Knights.
Game Changer - Game 1
Carl Tebon elected to go with two pinch hitters in the bottom of the seventh and found great reward as freshmen
Ryan Koester and Danny Weis both reached base
Game Changer - Game 2
A six-run sixth inning proved to be the difference for Wartburg, giving them a seven-run lead after the top half of the inning
Key Stat - Game 1 & 2
After averaging over one home run per game, the Knights were held to without a home run, but hit eight doubles over the course of both games
Notables
