DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) – Situational hitting was the key to Loras' sweep of the University of Dubuque on Tuesday afternoon in Iowa Conference Baseball action. The Spartans fought back in each game of the doubleheader, before the Duhawks eventually came away on top by final scores of 9-7 and 7-6. With these two victories the Duhawks completed the season sweep of the Spartans. Junior
Patrick Walsh led the Duhawks offensively in each game, driving in five RBIs total between both games.
Dubuque (11-21, 6-14 IIAC) touched up senior
Adam Schwoebel for two runs in the first inning of play during game one. Following this inning, Schwoebel saw clear skies for the next five frames.
Loras (17-14, 11-9 IIAC) scored eight runs in the sixth inning of game one to seal their victory.
Senior
Spence Bonner led off the inning with a double down the left field line. After a hit by pitch on sophomore
Tony Heiser and a bunt single by senior
Adam Kennedy, sophomore
Luke Leibforth drove in Bonner from third on a sacrifice fly to tie the game at two.
With two outs, sophomore
Nolan Ritter chopped a high-hopper over the third baseman's head to drive in Heiser from third.
After a walk to sophomore
Cole Reeg, senior
Anthony Flattery singled through the left side, scoring two runs to make it 5-2 Duhawks.
Walsh followed suit with a double to center field to plate two more runs and extend Loras' lead.
One out away from another complete game, disaster struck for Schwoebel as the Spartans plated five runs, which forced his departure in favor of senior
Connor Schreck. The Iowa City native earned his third save of the season, striking out Austin McWhite for the final out of the seventh.
Adam Schwoebel picked up his seventh win of the season, pushing his record to 7-1. His final line included 6 2/3 innings pitched, while allowing seven hits, seven runs, and one walk while striking out three.
Senior
Will Petrosky took to the mound in game two, looking to improve upon his start last weekend against Wartburg in which he allowed six runs in 5 2/3 innings pitched. Petrosky toed the rubber for five innings, allowing just two hits and two earned runs. The Glenbard North product struck out six batters, tying his season-high.
Petrosky found himself in several jams throughout his outing, but got out of them in style. With the bases loaded in the fourth inning, the senior struck out three of the final four batters of the inning to limit the damage.
Schreck once again came on in relief to earn his fourth save of the season. In the longest stint of his career, Schreck tossed 3 1/3 innings allowing three hits, two earned runs, and two walks, while striking out three crucial batters.
Similar to game one, Loras' offense in game two was concentrated over the course of a few select innings.
Things got going in the fifth inning of play when
Patrick Walsh roped a doubled down the left field line, scoring
Anthony Flattery from second.
Spence Bonner then wasted no time getting the Duhawks back on the board, driving home Walsh with a double of his own in the very next at-bat. Four more runs would be driven in during the sixth inning, two of which coming off the bat of
Nolan Ritter who singled home two.
Game Changer – Game 1With the bases loaded behind him, senior
Connor Schreck struck out the final batter of the game to seal the one-run victory for the Duhawks
Game Changer – Game 2The Duhawks touched up Dubuque starter Trent Van Egtern for six earned runs over the course of the fifth and sixth inning
Key Stat – Game 1With two outs, Loras was able to get hot, bringing home seven two-out baserunners in game one
Key Stat – Game 2Connor Schreck retired five consecutive batters during his outing … the first of the five coming with the bases loaded behind him in the sixth inning
Notable 