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5
Luther LUTBB16 15-7, 4-6 IIAC
10
Winner Loras LORM 8-10, 2-6 IIAC
Luther LUTBB16
15-7, 4-6 IIAC
5
Final
10
Loras LORM
8-10, 2-6 IIAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Luther LUTBB16 2 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 5 8 1
Loras LORM 0 0 3 0 2 5 0 0 X 10 13 1

W: Hovey, Robert (1-0) L: Colin Coffey (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Offense Comes Alive in Series Finale Against Luther

DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - The Loras baseball team earned a weekend split with Luther College on Sunday, winning by a final score of 10–5. With the win, Loras moves to 8–10 on the season with a 2–6 record in Iowa Conference play. The Duhawks were led offensively by the top of their batting order, who combined to hit 7-for-14 with four extra-base hits and six RBIs. On the mound, Loras was led by a solid relief performances from sophomores Patrick Moriarty and Robert Hovey.
 
LORAS HIGHLIGHTS
  • Things started slowly for the Duhawks with sophomore Nick Spiess allowing two earned runs in the first inning via a pair of singles by Luther's Mitch Knippenberg and Bryce Hingst.
  • Neither team scored again until the third inning, when Luther's Alex Weber took Moriarty deep over the left field fence, giving Luther a 3–0 lead over the Duhawks.
  • A single from junior Tony Heiser and a walk to senior Patrick Walsh set up sophomore Ryan Koester's fourth home run of the season and second of the weekend series. Koester's round-tripper tied the game up at three heading into the fourth inning.
  • Moriarty started to heat up during the fourth inning, sending the Norse down 1–2-3 while striking out the final two batters of the inning.
  • This dominance on the mound continued in the fifth, with Moriarty once again sent Luther down in order.
  • Back-to-back-to-back doubles from the trio of Heiser, Walsh and senior Lucas Jacque gave Loras a 5–3 advantage heading into the sixth inning.
  • Sophomore Robert Hovey came on the pitch the final four innings of the game, allowing four hits and two earned runs. Both earned runs came in Hovey's first inning of work, before the sophomore settled into a groove.
  • Loras took advantage of Luther's bullpen woes in the sixth, scoring five runs to take a 10–5 lead, all before the first out of the inning.
  • After allowing three straight Duhawk batters to reach, Colin Coffey was removed in favor of Ryan LaPage who's outing lasted two pitches, both of which were hit hard by Heiser and Walsh.  for RBI singles.
  • After LaPage departed, Luther's Joey Cardamon came on and kept the Loras bats in check, conceding one hit over three innings of work.

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
  • Heiser combined to hit 8-of-16 on the weekend, raising his season batting average from .242 to .327 in the process.
  • Loras leaned heavily on the play of freshman Austin Konagel, who started in three games against Luther. Konagel flashed the leather on several occasions, but stood out at the plate hitting 5-for-10 with an RBI triple this weekend.
  • A solid performance by junior Thomas Johnson, who went 8-for-10 from the dish which included a 2-for-4 performance on Sunday, helped the Kaukauna, Wis. native raise his batting average by nearly .100 points going from .286 to .385.
  • Senior Lucas Jacque caught five Luther base runners stealing over the last four games, giving him eight on the season.
  • Sophomore Robert Hovey recorded his first career victory on the mound.

FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYERS OF THE GAME:
Patrick Moriarty | Moriarty showcased his best stuff on the mound after coming in to relieve starter Nick Spiess. Despite allowing a home run to the first batter he faced, Moriarty settled into a groove which allowed for him to pitch three otherwise spotless innings alongside five strikeouts.
 
Tony Heiser | Heiser capped off an already great weekend with another solid performance, going 3-for-5 which brought his series average up to .500. The junior drove home two RBIs, both coming around to score in the sixth inning off a Heiser double.
 
Robert Hovey | Much like Moriarty, an early home run attempted to send Hovey packing, but the sophomore fought through and came out the other end in strong fashion. After allowing a two-run homer, Hovey settled down to battle through four strong innings, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out one.

 
UP NEXT
Loras will face the University of Dubuque on Tuesday in a makeup game from last week. The Spartans went split their weekend series with Simpson at home and enter Tuesday's game with a 10–10 overall record and 3–5 mark in the Iowa Conference.