Contact: Nathan Cameron, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications, 563-588-7243

Apr. 11, 2021 - After inclement weather pushed the series back a day, the Loras College baseball team (12-8, 9-7 A-R-C) picked up where they left off on Sunday as they faced the No. 25 Coe College Kohawks (18-3, 14-2 A-R-C) in the final doubleheader of the four-game series. Marshall Rice excelled on the mound for the Duhawks in game two of the day, throwing 6.0 innings allowing only three hits with seven strikeouts, helping lead the team in a 10-0 victory. 

After both sides went three-up, three-down in the first inning, Coe College struck first in the top of the second on a two RBI single through the right side of the infield that scored runners from second and third. In the top of the third inning, the Kohawks tacked on two more on a ground out that scored a runner from third and an RBI double to right center that rounded out the offensive attack from Coe to give them a 4-0 lead after three. 

The score remained unchanged until the bottom of the fourth inning when Max Cullen reached base on a single up the middle with one out in the inning before Dylan Pardoe joined him on base with a single of his own. With two runners on base, Dakota Church smacked a single through the left side of the infield to load the bases for the designated hitter Daniel Rogers. Rogers found the gap in left center with an RBI single that scored Pardoe and Cullen to cut the deficit to two runs after four innings of play. 

An inning later, the Duhawks continued their rally after Chris Constantino led the inning off with a single to right field. After a pair of ground outs, Luke Fennelly stepped up to the place and lined a single to left field to score Costantino, who had advanced to second on an earlier out in the inning. The Kohawks held off the Duhawks' attack and took game one with a 4-3 final score. 

Rogers shined at the plate with two RBIs on two hits, going 2-3 on the day. Fennelly joined Rogers with an RBI and a hit while six other Duhawks posted a hit in the game. 

Matt Jeter got the start on the mound for Loras and pitched a complete 7.0 inning game, allowing only four runs on four hits with three strikeouts for his first loss of the season. 

As was the story in the first game of the afternoon, the first inning was quiet as both teams' first three batters were retired quickly but the Duhawks' offense sparked in the second on a lead off single from Pardoe. Church followed suit by hitting a single of his own to bring Rogers back to the plate, who reached on a fielder's choice that saw Church tagged out and Pardoe advance to third. With runners on the corners, Bill Luzzo hit a double into deep right center field to advance Rogers to third and score Pardoe. A batter later, Costantino hit a grounder to third base that scored Rogers from third. Alex Kelsch stepped into the box with one out and Luzzo in scoring position on second and belted a double into the gap in right center to score Luzzo and extend the Duhawks lead to 3-0. Joe Egan continued the barrage for the Duhawks on a single to center field, advancing to second on the throw home in an attempt to keep Kelsch from scoring but a safe call at the plate took the Duhawks lead to four runs. Fennelly rounded out the five run inning on an RBI single to left center field to score egan from second to take the score to 5-0 after just two innings of play. 

Another run was added to the board in favor of the Duhawks in the bottom of the third inning after a one out double from Church put a runner in scoring position for Luzzo, who again drove the run in on an RBI single to left center field to widen the lead to six runs. 

The seventh run of the game scored in the bottom of the sixth inning after Fennelly roped a double to right center field to give Cullen a runner on base. Cullen brought Fennelly home on an RBI single to center field but was thrown out trying to extend his single to a double to take the score to 7-0 after six. 

The bottom of the seventh inning saw Coe turn to the bullpen for a pitching change, but the switch did little to tame the Duhawks at the plate. With a new pitcher on the mound, Church hit a lead off double to right center field and advanced to third on a wild pitch with Rogers at the plate. Rogers went on to walk to bring up Luzzo again, whose tremendous day at the plate continued on an RBI single to left field that scored Church from third and advanced Rogers to second. After Rogers was caught stealing, Costantino reached base on a walk to put runners on first and second for Kelsch, who advanced the runners on a sacrifice bunt with Egan due at the plate. Egan loaded the bases for Fennelly after drawing a walk and Fennelly took advantage of the bases loaded opportunity and hit a double into deep left center field to shut the door on the game by virtue of the ten run rule in the bottom of the seventh inning to see the Duhawks shut out the No. 25 ranked team in the country. 

Rice had a spectacular outing for the Duhawks with seven strikeouts in 6.0 innings of work on the mound, allowing no runs with only three hits. Ethan Peters got the call in relief for Rice, closing out the final inning of the game with no runs on no hits. 

Luzzo went a perfect 4-4 at the plate for Loras in game two of the day, driving in a career-high three runs and scoring two of his own. Fennelly added three RBIs of his own, going 3-5 on the day, scoring one run. Church and Fennelly each notched two doubles in the game while Luzzo and Kelsch had one apiece. 

The Duhawks are set to travel to River Forest, Ill. on Thursday, Apr. 15 to take on the Dominican University Stars in a nonconference midweek matchup. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 2:00 PM.