INDIANOLA, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - With a trio of pivotal Iowa Conference match ups left on the 2015 slate, the Loras College Softball team traveled to Indianola, Iowa on Saturday for a weekend bout with the Storm of Simpson College. Taking on the Storm, the Duhawks battled through rain before coming out on the wrong side of a sweep (2-1, 5-3). Sophomore Danielle Stromert finished the day 3-for-7, with a home run and a double to pace the Duhawks. A pitcher's dual from the get go, game one remained scoreless through three innings before the Storm (25-8, 4-5) broke into the scoring column in the bottom of the fourth.
Heading to the fifth, the Duhawks (16-16, 3-7) quickly made up their one-run deficit. A two-out double by Stromert was followed by a RBI-single by freshman Miranda Chapman, evening the score at one.
Simpson's leadoff hitter reached on hit by pitch, eventually scoring on a RBI-double, lifting the Storm to a 2-1 lead.
Unfortunately for Loras, one run was all they could muster, as they were held hitless in the final two innings, falling 2-1.
Simpson scored two in the second and three in the third to carry a 5-0 lead through four innings of play in game two.
With the rain picking up, freshman Savannah Fowler kept Loras' half of the fifth going, driving an 0-2 pitch to left center with two outs. Stromert capped the inning, blasting a dinger to center field, pulling the Duhawks to within three.
Trailing 5-2 after a 62 minute rain delay, senior Holly Klein took over on the mound, replacing junior Makaila Haase. Klein continued her success in relief appearances, shutting down the Storm for the remainder of the contest.
The three-run deficit still lingered as the Duhawks took to the batter's box for their final at bats in the seventh.
Following back-to-back walks by Haase and senior Nora Zerante, the Storm brought in game one starter Abbie VanVleet to close out the final frame. VanVleet's control struggled as sophomore pinch hitter Katherine Angelini drew a walk to load the bases with no outs.
Pinch hitting for Fowler, junior Ashlee Hoffmann flied out deep to center, scoring one to cut Loras' deficit to two.
Unable to make concrete contact, a pair of strikeouts ended the Duhawks rally short as they fell 5-3, leaving the bases loaded in the final frame.
Game Changer
Loras never led in either game … falling to 2-10 on the year when their opponent scores first
Key Stat
Loras struck out 12 times while the Storm were fanned seven times
Notables
- Sophomore Danielle Stromert's streak of reaching base moved to 32 consecutive games
- Senior Nora Zerante has reached base in 12 consecutive games, drawing walks in each of the last five games
- Saturday's games mark the first time the Duhawks have been swept since opening Iowa Conference play on March 31, when Loras dropped a pair of games to Luther
Up Next
Loras continues Iowa Conference play on Tuesday in Waverly, Iowa when the Duhawks take on Wartburg. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
