CLERMONT, Fla. (Duhawks.com) - The Loras softball team split on their fourth day of games in Florida with a 5-2 loss to Buffalo State and a 13-2 win over Fredonia. A total of 10 Duhawks recorded a hit between the two games.
LORAS HIGHLIGHTS
- Buffalo State found their rhythm in the bottom of the second and third innings, combining for nine hits over the two innings.
- The Bengals converted the nine hits to one run in the second and four runs in the third to take a 5-0 lead.
- The Duhawks took their turn swinging in the top of the fifth, with senior Makaila Haase homering for the fourth time in Florida to make the score 5-1.
- Senior Ashlee Hoffman followed with a single, but Loras was unable to drive in another run.
- The Duhawks continued their comeback effort in the fifth as freshman Shannon Coyle's single to center field scored freshman Nicole Majewski.
- The Duhawk defense held Buffalo State from scoring in the final innings, but unable to score more runs themselves, falling by a final score of 5-2.
- Not phased by their loss in game one, Loras started game two with a renewed sense of energy.
- Fredonia was first to bring in a run in the top of the second as Forness scored on an error.
- The Duhawks came out swinging in their half of the second recording six hits and scoring 12 runs.
- Freshman Hannah Towns was walked to start the inning. Then sophomore Bria Lenten reached on an error followed by a bunt single from Majewski.
- With the bases loaded, freshman Megan Larson stepped up to the plate and smashed a double to left center scoring all three runners.
- Later, Haase's single scored Larson followed by a two-RBI double by Towns to score Haase and Coyle, giving the Duhawks a 6-1 lead.
- The scoring continued through the remainder of the inning with RBIs by Lenten, Majewski and Larson to give the Duhawks a 12-1 lead after two.
- Sophomore Tara Shingler led the defensive effort in the third inning by inducing two ground ball outs and a strikeout.
- Fredonia scored one run in the fourth on a passed ball to make the score 12-2.
- Loras responded with a run of their own, scoring junior Cate Paulsen on a passed ball to lead 13-2.
- The Duhawks quickly ended the top of the fifth with two ground outs and a pop out, ending the game by mercy rule after five innings.
FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Makaila Haase | The senior homered for the fourth time on the team's Florida trip, scoring the Duhawks' first run of game one. On the mound, Haase induced nine ground ball outs.
Megan Larson | The freshman was 1-for-2 at bat with one run and four RBIs.
UP NEXT
The Duhawks will conclude their spring break trip in Florida tomorrow with games against Greenville and Hope. First pitch against Greenville is set for 11:00 a.m.
