DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) – The Loras College Baseball team was back in action on Sunday, following the postponement of their weekend series with Buena Vista University. Both games came down to the wire, with the Duhawks (18-15, 12-10) falling short in the first by a final score of 2-1 before coming away on top in game two, 4-3. Sophomore Tony Heiser lead the Duhawks to victory with a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Senior Adam Schwoebel took to the bump in game one, looking to earn his eight victory of the season. Schwoebel pitched per usual for the Duhawks, allowing just two runs to cross in nine innings of work while walking none and striking out three.

Unfortunately for the senior, two runs proved to be too many for the Duhawk offense to overcome. The Althoff Catholic product was tagged with the loss, pushing his record to 7-2. With nine innings pitched, Sunday's outing marked Schwoebel's longest of the season and his fifth complete game.

Loras' offense couldn't seem to figure out the pitching of Buena Vista (21-12, 11-11) starter Jake Bjorkgren or relief pitcher Lucas Hadaway. Despite nine hits for the Duhawks, they brought just one runner around to score and left 11 men on base. The top of the order saw success for Loras, combining to go 7-for-18 at the dish while the five through nine hitters went 2-for-16.

Senior Anthony Flattery had a solid day at the plate in the two-hole, going 2-for-4 with the team's lone RBI. Flattery's single to left field gave the Duhawks a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Schwoebel's fellow senior Will Petrosky toed the rubber in game two, lowering his season ERA to a season-best 4.88. Although Petrosky picked up a no-decision for his efforts, his pitching kept Loras in the game by inducing weak contact off the bats of Buena Vista's hitters. In five innings pitched, Petrosky gave up five hits and one earned run while allowing five walks and striking out two.

Senior Connor Schreck came on in the sixth to relieve Petrosky and went on to earn his third win of the season. In two innings of work, Schreck allowed one hit, and one earned run, while striking out two.

The Duhawks started to pick things up in the third inning in response to Buena Vista tallying the first run of the game in the top of the third.

Senior Danny Fahlgren started the rally with a one-out single to right center field and was followed up by sophomore Nolan Ritter reaching on a throwing error. After sophomore Cole Reeg struck out, Flattery hit a hard ground ball up the middle but reached when the shortstop bobbled the ball, loading the bases.

Junior Patrick Walsh then stepped to the plate and drove the first pitch he saw into left field to score Fahlgren and Ritter, giving the Duhawks the 2-1 lead.

After the Beavers tied the game at two in the fifth, senior Adam Kennedy wasted no time getting the Duhawks back on the board. Kennedy singled home senior Spence Bonner on a 3-1 pitch to right field.

In the bottom of the seventh, Loras was on the verge of being set down in order when Bonner worked a 1-2 count into a walk. Following the clutch walk from Bonner, Kennedy came up big once again with a single through the left side of the infield.

A player accustomed to batting in clutch situations, sophomore Tony Heiser fouled off five-straight pitches to stay alive in a 0-2 count. On the sixth pitch of the at-bat, Heiser ripped a single into left field bringing home the winning run and giving the Duhawks their first victory over Buena Vista since May 6, 2013.


 
Key Stat – Game 1
The Duhawks left 11 men on base in game one with the bottom of the order stranding seven

Key Stat - Game 2
Loras hit .222 in game two, but clutch batting with two outs sealed their victory

Game Changer – Game 1
With the bases loaded and nobody out in the fourth inning, Loras failed to plate any runs thanks to back-to-back strikeouts and a ground out

Game Changer – Game 2
Tony Heiser forced Buena Vista to throw him six pitches in his final at-bat … Heiser found one he liked and drove it to left to bring home the game-winning run

Notable

Quotable

 

Up Next
Loras will continue their series with Buena Vista on Monday April 27. First pitch for game one of the doubleheader will be thrown at 3:30 p.m. at Petrakis Park.