CAROL STREAM, Ill (Duhawks.com) - The Duhawks split games in their first day in the Chicago suburbs. Loras defeated Northland College in game one, 7-1, and lost on another walk-off to Aurora University, 6-5.
Joe Egan came in clutch for the Duhawks in game two, hitting 2-for-3 with two runs batted in and a walk.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Game 1
-The Duhawks jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead after
Danny Paluch was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
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Cole Thompson drove in two runs for Loras in the 2nd inning on a single to expand to a 3-0 lead.
-The Duhawks added to their lead again in the top of the 4th on a double from Paluch and a single by
Dakota Church.
-After leading 6-0, Loras tacked on another run in the top of the 9th to lead 7-0.
-Northland scored their first run of the game in the bottom of the 9th, but it wasn't enough to keep the game going.
Game 2
-With the bases load, Paluch singled up the middle to allow Loras to grab an early 1-0 lead.
-Aurora answered with a run of their own in the bottom half of the first, and then took the lead in the bottom of the 2nd, 2-1.
-In the bottom of the 5th, Aurora added to their lead on a sacrifice fly to center field.
-It took until the top of the 7th for the Duhawks to tie things up at three, after a triple by
Luke Fennelly.
-Aurora took advantage of some Loras errors to regain the lead at 5-3 heading into the 9th.
-In the top of the 9th, Egan struck at the right time by driving in two runs on a double to tie the game at five.
-Aurora ended the game in the bottom of the 9th on a single with the bases loaded.
NOTABLES
-In game one,
Curtis Lilienthal pitched 7 innings for the Duhawks while walking nobody, and striking out nine.
-71% of Lilienthal 103 total pitches were strikes.
-An all freshman pitching staff combined for 13 strikeouts for Loras in game one.
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Matt Gruszkowski made his first appearance of the season in game two, and went 1-for-3 with a big run scored.
-Game two marks the third walk-off loss for the Duhawks this season.
UP NEXT
The Duhawks will have a doubleheader on Sunday, March 17 at Lee Pfund Stadium. Loras will face Northland and Aurora for the second time in Carol Stream. First pitch versus Northland is scheduled for 10:00 AM.
