DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - The Loras baseball team put an end to the 2016 season on Saturday with a split against Central. Game three of the series needed 13 innings to be decided, with the Dutch coming out on top, 4-3. The Duhawks responded with a stifling pitching effort in game two, winning 2-1.
LORAS HIGHLIGHTS
- Sophomore Brad Schwind took the mound for his ninth start of the season on Saturday, pitching seven strong innings in which he allowed two earned runs on six hits while striking out four.
- Schwind concluded his sophomore campaign on a high note, lowering his ERA to 6.04.
- Senior Kyle Hoffman came on in relief of Schwind to toss the longest outing of his collegiate career. Hoffman has been the Duhawks go-to long reliever this season and tossed six quality innings on senior day.
- Hoffman pitched six innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits, striking out three.
- Hoffman finishes the 2016 campaign with an ERA of 4.88 which ranks second on the team overall and first in conference only action.
- Loras took an early two run lead over the Dutch using a pair of infield singles from freshman Danny Paluch and junior Tony Heiser to plate runs in the first and third innings.
- After neither team scored in the seventh inning teams were forced to play extras.
- Game three took 13 innings before Central's Kyle Crampton singled home a run in the top half of the inning.
- Despite five Dutch errors and 13 hits, the Duhawks left 15 runners on base and were ultimately unable to capitalize to their full potential.
- Game four featured the second pitchers duel of the afternoon with sophomore Pat Moriarty on the bump for the Duhawks. Moriarty earned his first victory of the season with no time to spare, throwing five innings and allowing zero earned runs.
- Moriarty was relieved by senior Nick Petruzzi who pitched a clean inning of relief by sending down the Dutch in order.
- Sophomore Aidan Wojciehowski earned his first save of the season by striking out two in his lone inning of work.
- Senior Adrian Nunez was responsible for all of the Duhawks offense in game four as his two-RBI double was the difference maker.
- Sophomore Ryan Koester stole his first base of the season in game four, while junior Nolan Ritter stole his 11th to lead the team.
FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYER OF THE GAME
Tony Heiser | Heiser provided the Duhawks with key offense in a low scoring game during the third contest of the series. The junior went 2-for-5 from the dish with one RBI, one run, and a walk. Heiser finishes his junior campaign a .346 hitter in conference action.
Patrick Moriarty | Moriarty earned his first win of the season in game four, turning in his lengthiest outing to date with five innings. P-Mo allowed on unearned run in an otherwise spotless outing for the Duhawks. The sophomore owned the second lowest ERA on the team during conference play this season at 5.11.
FINAL TEAM LEADERS
AVG: Austin Konagel (.423)
Hits: Tony Heiser (44)
XBH: Ryan Koester (19)
HR: Ryan Koester (10)
RBI: Ryan Koester (34)
OBP: Austin Konagel (.491)
SB: Nolan Ritter (11)
ERA: Alex Steines (4.45)
SO: Brad Schwind (55)
BAA: Aidan Wojciehowski (.206)
