CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - With their backs to the wall, the Loras Baseball team faced elimination in the Iowa Conference Tournament on Friday against Buena Vista. Clutch hitting and resilient pitching proved to be the difference as the Duhawks eliminated the Beavers with a 5-1 win.

In their loss to Central on Thursday, Loras' offense was kept in check for a majority of the game. On four occasions, Loras was sent down in order, failing to generate a consistent offensive approach at the plate.

The Duhawks turned the tides on Friday, jumping on Buena Vista starter Wes Onken from the first inning. A single up the middle by senior Anthony Flattery started the rally before junior Patrick Walsh took the first pitch he saw and sent it over the right field wall to put Loras ahead 2-0.

Buena Vista didn't hesitate with their response, opening the bottom of the first with a triple to right center by Neil Marshall. After a groundout to sophomore Nolan Ritter at short, Marshall came in to cut the Loras lead in half.

Following a quiet second inning from both sides, the Duhawks got their offense going once again in the third. A 2-out single from Walsh started the rally, taking the first pitch he saw from Onken and sent it back up the middle.

After a walk to senior Spence Bonner, sophomore Tony Heiser drove the 0-2 pitch to left field to score Walsh from second and move Bonner into scoring position. Senior Adam Kennedy continued the rally with a double to the right center gap, driving in two more runs to make it 5-1 Loras.

Senior Adam Schwoebel settled down after the first inning and kept Buena Vista in check, holding them off the scoreboard through the final eight innings. The Beavers had their best chance to scratch away at the deficit in the bottom of the eighth after the first three batters reached base.

With the bases loaded and no one out, Schwoebel hunkered down and forced Bryce Wessels to fly out to the shortstop before ending the Buena Vista rally with a 5-3 double play turned by Walsh.

Game Changer
Buena Vista's rally in the eighth would have surely spelled trouble for Schwoebel and the Duhawks, but the senior worked his way out of the jam without allowing any runs to score

Key Stat
Adam Schwoebel did not surrender a walk in nine innings pitched … Buena Vista combined to throw five walks

Notables

Quotable



Up Next
Loras advances in the consolation bracket and will play Luther at 4 p.m. During the regular season, the teams split the four-game series, 2-2.