DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - The Loras softball team dropped both games of its doubleheader on Wednesday against fourth-ranked Luther, falling to 4-4 in IIAC play. Senior
Dani Stromert led the Duhawks in game one, hitting 2-for-3 at the plate with a triple.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Game One
- The Norse loaded the bases to begin the game and drove in three runs on four hits to grab an early lead. Loras earned two outs at the plate and a strikeout from freshman Emily Reilly to retire Luther in the first.
- Despite a lead off base hit from senior Dani Stromert paired with a bunt single from senior Cate Paulsen, which put both runners in scoring position, the Duhawks were unable to plate any runs through two full innings.
- Two hits in the fourth inning from Luther earned the Norse their fourth run of the game after a RBI double.
- After entering the game in the fifth, junior Emma Corkill worked a 1-2-3 inning in the top frame of the sixth, forcing a fly out and two ground outs.
- Stromert put herself in scoring position with a drive to the right field fence for a stand up triple, however Loras was unable to bring the senior in to score.
- Facing a 6-0 deficit, the Duhawks got two runners on with no outs in the top of the seventh after a walk from junior Regan Wolverton and base hit from junior Bria Lenten. However, Luther sealed their game one win with three fly outs to end the game.
Game Two
- The Norse carried over the momentum from game one to the tune of five runs in the first three innings.
- After a pair of one-out singles, the Duhawks were in position to strike back, but Stromert grounded into a 4-6-3 double play, putting a halt to the rally before it could materialize into anything substantial
- Luther chased Loras starter Bayley Monroe after one inning, handing the ball to the veteran in junior Emma Corkill who tossed six innings in relief while inducing 14 ground ball outs.
- Two more runs came across for the Norse in the third opening a 5-0 lead.
- Luther's Annie Versnik held the Duhawk bats in check, scattering three hits over six innings before turning it over to Amanda Witzlib to close out the game.
- In the bottom of the seventh, Stromert led off with a single up the middle before sophomore Lauren Fritz walked on four straight pitches.
- Witzlib struck out the next two batters before Lenten smashed a double to right field. Stromert came in to score from second but freshman McKenna Hawkins, who had pinch ran for Fritz, was thrown out at the plate to end the game.
FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Dani Stromert | In game one, Stromert ripped a triple to right field for her second of the season and elevated her batting average to .448, which is a full 101 points higher than her previous season best set as a sophomeor (.347).
Bria Lenten | The junior shortstop was responsible for the lone Duhawk run, driving the first pitch she saw to right field, scoring Stromert from third. Lenten finished with a pair of hits and is in position to break the 100-hit mark for her career, needing 11 to do so.
NOTABLES
- Junior Shannon Coyle had her 24-game hitting streak snapped in game one
- Stromert extended her hitting streak to 14 games and recorded her eighth career triple, which is one behind the all-time record at Loras
- With eight regular season games remaining, Stromert needs 13 hits to become the all-time leader in program history
UP NEXT
After the holiday break, Loras travels to Indianola for a doubleheader against Simpson on Tuesday, April 18. The Storm dropped both sides of a doubleheader to Wartburg on Wednesday and are 5-21 this season overall with an 0-8 record in conference play. First pitch from the Simpson Softball Complex is scheduled for 4 p.m.
