GRINNELL, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - The Loras softball team improved to 17-5 this season after a non-conference sweep of Grinnell on Thursday. In game one, the Duhawks came back from a 6-2 deficit to earn a 9-7 win and followed with a 8-2 victory in game two.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Game One
- The Pioneers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first with a string of three hits.
- In the top of the fourth, Loras put runners on the corners with one out but were held scoreless after a pop up and ground out to end the inning.
- Junior Bria Lenten stepped to the plate and blasted her first home run of the season to right center to put the Duhawks on the board.
- Two more runs in the fifth on four straight hits from Grinnell brought junior Emma Corkill into the game in relief of freshman Emily Reilly.Â
- The Pioneers tacked on one more run for a 6-1 lead in the fifth before Corkill forced two-straight outs to end the frame.Â
- Sophomore Megan Larson started the top of the sixth with a lead-off double to right center.Â
- Three consecutive base hits by senior Dani Stromert, sophomore Lauren Fritz and sophomore Melanie Gerbig loaded the bases to bring junior Regan Wolverton to the plate. Wolverton proceeded to hit a bases-clearing double to center field to bring the Duhawks within one at 6-5.
- Loras' added insult to injury, tacking on two more runs on RBI singles by junior Savannah Fowler and sophomore Ashley Lentine.
- An RBI-triple from the Pioneers brought Grinnell to within one in the bottom of the sixth.Â
- Stromert came home in the top frame of the seventh for an insurance run before Corkill retired the side in the seventh for Loras' 16th win of the year.Â
Game Two
- After the first two batters were retired to start game two, sophomore Shannon Coyle roped a two-out double to right center to start the rally. Stromert and sophomore Lauren Fritz, knocked back-to-back singles up the middle, scoring Coyle.
- The Duhawks opened a 2-0 lead after senior Cate Paulsen reached on an error that scored Stromert from second.
- Lenten's aggressiveness on the bases paid dividends, as the junior stole third and scored on a groundout for the 3-0 lead.Â
- Loras spread it's lead to four after an RBI triple by Lenten, scoring Wolverton, who had reached on a single.
- Three more runs came across to score in the fourth, the last two of which came after Larson reached on an error to extend the inning.
- Sophomore Bayley Monroe kept Grinnell off the board until the fifth as the Pioneers capitalized on a fielding error that sent the runner from first to third. Two pitches later, Grinnell scored its lone run of the game before Monroe retired the next three hitters in order.
- After Fritz singled to lead off the seventh, sophomore Makayla Sokoloski, as a pinch runner, motored around the bases and scored on a ground out by freshman Melanie Gerbig, who had pinch hit for Fowler.
- The Pioneers plated one more run in the home half of the seventh, but Monroe shut the door on any chances of a comeback bid, sealing the Duhawks' fifth consecutive win and 17th of the season, 8-2.
NOTABLES
- The Duhawks have now tied their win total from last season (17) with 14 regular season games left to play
- Junior Shannon Coyle has extended her hitting-streak to 13 straight-games which ties the most by any Duhawk this year
- Lenten and Fritz now lead Loras with five multi-RBI games this season
- Larson notched her 25th career double on Thursday
- Monroe improved to 7-1 this season in the circle and finished her third complete game
FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYER OF THE GAME
Regan Wolverton | The Mount Union native hit a bases clearing double that pulled Loras within one run after facing a 6-2 deficit. Wolverton finished the game going 2-for-4 with three RBIs.Â
Bria Lenten | The junior provided big plays in the field and at the plate for Loras in game two, going 3-for-4 while scoring two runs.
SOUNDBITES | Regan Wolverton, Bria Lenten and Head Coach Ashley Winter
UP NEXT
Loras continues its road schedule on Saturday against Wartburg. The Knights are 14-10 (2-2 IIAC) start after being swept by Central on Tuesday. First pitch of the double header is scheduled for 1 p.m. from Lynes Field.
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