CLERMONT, Fla. (Duhawks.com) - On Sunday, the Loras softball team made program history with a 2-0 win over St. Scholastica to earn the Duhawks a 9-0 start which marks the best start in Loras softball program history. In the game, the Duhawks were led by freshman
Emily Reilly who pitched her second-straight complete game shutout while only allowing three hits. Loras then fell to Hamilton, 5-4, for it's first loss of the year.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Game One vs. St. Scholastica
- Sophomore Ashley Lentine gave the Duhawks an early 1-0 advantage with a lead off home run over the right field fence.
- The Saints threatened to score in the top of the third after loading the bases with nobody out. Reilly worked herself out of the jam.
- With one out and a runner at second, a ground ball to third was thrown across the diamond by Lentine, but on the throw the baserunner attempted to go to third but was caught in a pickle a before eventually conceding the out and ending the inning.
- With one out in the bottom of the sixth, sophomore Melanie Gerbig grabbed a bat and pinch hit for senior Cate Paulsen, doubling to right center. Paulsen returned to the lineup and later scored on a throwing error by St. Scholastica.
- In the bottom of the seventh, Reilly made quick work of the Saints, forcing three routine ground outs to end the game and wrap up her second-straight complete game shutout.
- With the win, Loras broke the program record for best start to a season, winning its ninth-consecutive game.
Game Two vs. Hamilton
- The Continentials jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first with a first-pitch base hit drive to left field to plate two runs.
- Back-to-back hits from senior Dani Stromert and sophomore Lauren Fritz started a rally which later saw the Duhawks load the bases. Hamilton got out of the jam with a pair of fly outs by Loras to end the inning.
- Fritz continued her successful day at the plate, knocking a base hit to right field to score Stromert and tie the game at 2-all.
- In the top of the fifth, Loras stole the lead from Hamilton after a deep drive to center field from Fritz, which plated both Stromert and Sokoloski for a 4-2 lead.
- The Continentals rallied with a three-run rally in the bottom of the fifth to regain the lead at 5-4.
- In their last bats, the Duhawks were unable to get the tying run into scoring position and saw their nine-game winning streak come to an end.
FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Emily Reilly | The freshman brought her best in Loras' record-setting ninth consecutive win to start a season. Reilly pitched a seven inning complete game shutout, allowing three hits, improving to 5-0 this season.
Lauren Fritz | Fritz was crucial in keeping the Duhawks' in contention against Hamilton. The sophomore went 3-for-4 from the plate and drove in three of Loras' four runs.
NOTABLES
- Nine consecutive wins marks the best start in program history
- Reilly lowered her season ERA to 0.72 and her opponents' batting average to .183
- Lentine has extended her hitting streak to 10 straight games and is the only Duhawk to have recorded a hit in each of Loras' contests this year.
UP NEXT
The Duhawks close out their spring trip on Monday with a 9:00 a.m. ET contest against Wooster and an 11:15 a.m. ET finale with Washington & Jefferson in Clermont, Fla.
