Contact: Emily Adlfinger, Director of Athletic Communications, 563-588-7970

Mar. 21, 2021 – The Loras College softball team (0-7, 0-3 A-R-C) honored its senior class of Hadalyn Anderson, Jade Besler, and Madison Franks on Sunday afternoon at Faber Clark field in the final game of the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) series against Nebraska Wesleyan University (5-6, 3-0 A-R-C), but fell victim to a strong fourth-inning push by the Prairie Wolves, dropping the third game, 11-4.

The game got off to a slow start with neither team able to get on the board through the first two innings until Nebraska Wesleyan took advantage of the gusty conditions to send two home runs over the fence and bring three runners home. The Duhawks' defense put up two quick outs to open the top of the fourth but the Prairie Wolves kept it going, putting up five runs, though only two earned, to lead 9-0. A line out to Claire Peachey at shortstop ended the inning and gave Loras the chance to get the bats going. Abigail Bergholz reached on a Prairie Wolves' error before a single by Taylor Donnell moved her to second and Grace Hougton came up to the plate ready to swing, sending one over the fence to bring in three runs for the Duhawks. The Prairie Wolves tacked on two more in the top of the seventh and strong base running and a sacrifice RBI for Ellie Schill helped bring Anderson home to give Loras another run on the board, but Nebraska Wesleyan had built enough of a lead to take the series with an 11-4 win.

Houghton had two hits on three trips to the plate with three RBIs and Schill added an RBI as well. Donnell pitched 3.2 innings, allowing five hits, and Nicole Bendig pitched the second half of the game, allowing four hits.

The Duhawks play their first A-R-C series on the road beginning Thursday, Mar. 25 at Buena Vista University with game one of the double header slated for 2 P.M.