DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - The Loras College baseball team split with Central on Friday, losing game one 8–7 before trouncing the Dutch 16–5 in game two. With a loss in game one, the Duhawks were eliminated from post season contention after Simpson defeated Buena Vista in the opening game of their weekend series. Senior
Adrian Nunez paced the Loras offense in game one, finishing 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. The bats showed up for work in game two with the Duhawks collecting 16 runs on 17 hits.
LORAS HIGHLIGHTS
- Senior Patrick Walsh took the loss on the mound for Loras, pitching 3 1/3 innings while allowing six hits and eight earned runs. Walsh struck out four in the effort.
- The Dutch took advantage of Walsh early, hitting three home runs in the first three innings to take a 6–2 lead. Two came off the bat of Michael Reuter, who finished with five RBIs.
- Loras pounced on a slew of Dutch errors in game one, but none were bigger than the second inning gaff which plated two runs for the Duhawks.
- Freshman Austin Konagel reached on an error with no outs in the second, but a sure double-play ball went over the head of the Dutch first baseman. Nunez and junior Luke Leibforth scored as a result.
- Senior Kyle Hoffman came on in relief of Walsh in the fourth inning, allowing two inherited base runners to score, before shutting the door on the Dutch for good.
- Hoffman pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowing one hit and striking out two while holding things steady for the Loras offense.
- Loras started a comeback rally in the fifth inning, plating two runs to cut the deficit to 8–4.
- With two men on, senior Lucas Jacque laced a single through the right side to score junior Tony Heiser. Two batters later, Nunez singled home sophomore Ryan Koester.
- Loras started off the seventh inning hot, with Nunez and sophomore Danny Weis reaching to lead off the inning. Two ground-outs left the Duhawks in a hole however, despite Konagel scoring Nunez on a groundout.
- Junior Thomas Johnson singled home Weis with two outs, but was ultimately stranded.
- Senior Alex Steines took the bump in game two, earning his fifth win and fourth complete game of the season.
- Steines pitched seven innings, allowing 11 hits and three earned runs, while striking out three.
- Six Duhawks finished with multi-hit games in game two while nine recorded RBIs.
- Freshman Danny Paluch led the way with a 3-for-4 performance which included two doubles, three RBIs, and a walk. Joining Paluch with three hits apiece where Leibforth and Konagel.
- Johnson didn't record an extra base hit in game two, but led the Duhawks with three RBIs.
- The Duhawks showed off a bit of power in the sixth inning to secure the win via mercy rule.
- Heiser started things off with his first home run of the season, a two-run shot down the right field line.
- Following Heiser, Koester hit his league-leading 10th home run of the season to give Loras a 16–4 lead.
- With his 10th home run, Koester is the first Duhawk to reach double-digits since the 2001 season. His 10 home runs are the most by a Duhawk since Billy Kass hit eight in 2012.
FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Adrian Nunez | Nunez raised his season batting average to .333 with a combined 4-for-9 performance in the series' first two games. The senior recorded RBIs in each of Friday's contests.
Danny Paluch | Paluch raised his batting average from .328 to .352 with a 3-for-4 performance in game two. His .352 average ranks second on the team behind fellow freshman
Austin Konagel. Heading into the final two games of the season, Paluch has hit nine extra base hits with 18 RBIs.
UP NEXT
Loras will conclude their 2016 campaign on Saturday, playing two final games against Central College. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Petrakis Park.
