CLERMONT, Fla. (Duhawks.com) - The Loras softball team dropped a pair of non-conference contests on Sunday, falling to St. Benedict, 13-3 and St. Kate's, 2-0. All three of the Duhawks' runs came via the long ball, with juniors
Cate Paulsen and
Dani Stromert hitting home runs.
LORAS HIGHLIGHTS - The Duhawk defense was dominate to open game one against Saint Benedict, keeping the Blazers hitless for the first two innings.
- Unfortunately, the Blazers reciprocated a similar performance against the Duhawks, as their bats were quiet as well.
- Saint Benedict started its scoring run in the third inning, taking advantage of Loras errors and scored the first on a passed ball.
- Later in the inning, the Blazers ripped off three more hits and three more runs to extend their lead to 4-0.
- Loras regained composure on defense and held the Blazers hitless in the fourth.
- Despite this effort, the Blazers exploded in the fifth inning and took advantage of mistimed fielding mistakes by the Duhawks.
- Saint Benedict collected nine runs on three hits and three errors.
- The Duhawks came alive in the fifth inning with two homeruns. First, junior Cate Paulsen smashed one over the right field fence, scoring senior Makaila Haase in the process.
- Then, junior Dani Stromert homered followed by a single from freshman Megan Larson to round out the Duhawk's three runs.
- Unfortunately, Loras' late rally was not enough to stave off the mercy rule as they fell 13-3 after five innings.
- Deming was a large contributor to Saint Benedict's success, as she went 3-for-4 with one RBI.
- Game two featured a slow start for both teams as St. Kate's and Loras remained hitless for the first three innings.
- Sophomore Tara Shingler commanded the rubber, forcing a total of 12 ground ball outs, seven in the first three innings.
- The Wildcat's Megan Lindenfelser matched Shingler from the circle, recording nine strikeouts, including six in the first three innings.
- Galvaz broke up the no-hitter in the fifth inning with a single to right field and advanced to second on a fielding error by freshman Nicole Majewski. A ground ball moved Galvaz over to third where she would later score the first run of the game on a passed ball.
- Loras rallied in the sixth inning with a pair of hits from Haase and sophomore Bria Lenten. An intentional walk to freshman Hannah Towns loaded the bases, but St. Kate's worked out of the jam thanks to a fielder's choice and a strikeout, preserving the shutout in the process.
- St. Kate's closed the game with a final run in the seventh inning, topping the Duhawks 2-0.
FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYER OF THE GAMECate Paulsen | The junior backstop blasted a two-run home run in the fifth inning against Saint Benedict, finishing 2-for-2 and driving in her first two runs of the season.
Tara Shingler | The sophomore pitched 5 1/3 innings in game two, keeping St. Kate's off the scoreboard for four innings, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out one. Twelve of the 16 outs recorded with Shingler in the game were via the ground ball.
UP NEXTLoras returns to the diamond on Tuesday with a pair of games against UW-Stevens Point and Colby.
