INDIANOLA, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - The Loras softball team split with Simpson on Tuesday, winning game one 6-1 before dropping game two, 3-1. In game one, the Duhawks were led by senior
Cate Paulsen who went 3-for-4 at the plate. Junior
Emma Corkill pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowing one hit to keep Loras within reach.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Game One
- After reaching base in the top of the second, senior Cate Paulsen came around to score the Duhawks' first run of the game after a blooper landed in shallow left field off the bat of junior Savannah Fowler.
- A double from senior Kat Angelini brought sophomore Megan Larson in to score Loras' second run of the day in the top of the third.
- In the fifth, Paulsen hit a shot to right field to score sophomore Makayla Sokoloski who pinch ran for junior Shannon Coyle who reached after being hit by a pitch.
- The Storm returned in the next frame to claw within two after a home run to left field.
- A base hit up the middle from Larson combined with a Simpson error plated two runs for the Duhawks and a opened a 5-1 Loras lead.
- In the Duhawks' last turn at the plate, Paulsen knocked her third career home run over the left field fence to extend Loras' lead to five.
- Freshman Emily Reilly completed her seventh complete game after sending three batters down with ground outs in the seventh inning, improving to 9-5 this season.
Game Two
- Back-to-back doubles by the Storm gave Simpson an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Simpson loaded the bases in the bottom of the third and pushed two more runs across thanks to an error and a sacrifice fly.
- After reaching base on a two-out double, junior Bria Lenten came around to score the Duhawks' first run of the game after Fowler roped a single back up the middle.
- Sophomore Ashley Lentine led off the sixth by reaching base on a Storm fielding error, but was later doubled up on a line drive that was snagged in the infield.
- Junior Emma Corkill came on in relief in the third inning and after conceding a single to the first batter she faced, the Galva, Ill. native held Simpson hitless the rest of the way, striking out two.
- A two-out single by Lenten extended the top of the seventh, but that was as much offense as the Duhawks could muster, falling 3-1.
FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Cate Paulsen | The senior had herself a day both at the plate as well as behind it. Paulsen went 3-for-4 including a home run, two RBIs and scored a pair of runs. The Raymond native also threw a Simpson runner out stealing.
Emma Corkill | After entering the game in relief, Corkill worked 3 2/3 scoreless innings while allowing one hit. Corkill struck out two and finished the game setting the last nine hitters down in order.
NOTABLES
- Today's win over Simpson snapped an 11-game losing streak to the Storm dating back to Loras' last win over Simpson in the 2011 IIAC Conference Tournament and first regular season win since 2007, snapping a 19-game regular-season losing streak
- After recording at least two hits in each game on Tuesday, Larson has collected a team-best 17 multiple hit games
- Senior Dani Stromert has now extended her current reach-base streak to 16 games after reaching base in both games on Tuesday
- In 40 1/3 innings pitched this season, Corkill has yet to allow a walk
- Lenten is eight hits shy of 100 for her career
- Paulsen appeared in her 100th career game and now has 50 career hits
UP NEXT
The Duhawks return home and continue Iowa Conference play on Saturday, April 22 against Central on senior day. On Tuesday, the Dutch dropped both games of a doubleheader against Luther and are currently tied for second in the IIAC standings. First pitch from Faber-Clark field is scheduled for 1 p.m.
