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

LEESBURG, Fla. (March 15, 2022) - The Loras College softball team (8-0, 0-0 A-R-C) continued their hot start to the 2022 campaign on Tuesday in the second day of THE Spring Games in Leesburg, Fla. The first game of the day featured a 4-2 victory over the Salem State University Vikings (0-3, MASCAC) before taking down the Maryville College Scots (7-6, 0-0 USA South) 1-0 in game two of the day to win eight in a row and stay undefeated to start the year. 

The Duhawks wasted no time putting runs on the board in the first game of the day as senior Ellie Schill led the inning off by reaching first on a bunt before stealing second and third with Abby Jones at the plate. Jones hit a ball deep to center field for a sacrifice fly out to bring home Schill from third to put Loras up 1-0 from the jump. 

Two more runs scored in the top half of the second inning as American Rivers Conference Athlete of the Week Ashlyn Hemm hit a lead off single to the gap in left center field before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Emily Monahan moved Hemm to third with a sacrifice bunt before Schill continued her solid day at the plate with a triple down the left field line to score the run and replace Hemm on third. Jones drove in Schill for the second time of the game a batter later, this time on an RBI single into right center field to widen the Duhawks' lead at 3-0 after two innings of play. 

Loras scored their final run of the game in the top of the fourth inning as Jones reached first on a bunt with two outs in the inning before stealing second to put a runner in scoring position for Grace Houghton, who poked a single into center field that scored Jones from second to give Loras a four-run lead at the end of the fourth. 

Salem State attempted a late-game comeback, scoring a run in the fifth and seventh innings, but the Duhawks held on to take the 4-2 win. 

Hemm got the start in the circle and dished 4.0 innings of scoreless ball, allowing only one hit and striking out nine before Kayla Stich came in at relief. Stich allowed two runs on two hits in 3.0 innings pitched, grabbing a strikeout and her first save of the season. 

Five Duhawks in Schill, Jones, Houghton, Hemm and Nicole Bendig recorded two hits each in the game as the Duhawks outhit the Vikings 11-3. Jones had a pair of RBIs in the game while Schill and Houghton added one apiece. 

Game two featured the Duhawks and the Scots from Maryville College in a pitchers' duel of a game. 

The game was a battle between freshman standout Hemm and Maryville's Megan Ackermann with neither side scoring through six innings of play. Hemm kept the Scots in check, holding a no-hitter until the top of the sixth inning as they recorded their lone hit of the game but the score stayed at a stalemate until the bottom of the seventh. Morgan Machovec led the inning off with an infield single before moving on to third a batter later as Clare Murphy hit a hard ball at the pitcher, going on to reach second on a throwing error. With two runners in scoring position and one out in the inning, Claire Peachey loaded the bases by reaching on a fielder's choice before Monahan's plate discipline saw her draw a walk and score the winning run from third to win in walk-off fashion. 

Hemm recorded a complete game shutout, throwing all 7.0 innings of the game, allowing only one hit and fanning 13. Maryville's Ackermann challenged the Duhawks' offensive efforts, throwing a 6.1 innings and striking out nine, allowing only three hits and walking in the lone run of the game. 

Houghton, Machovec and Murphy tallied the only hits in the game for the Duhawks, hitting one apiece with Monahan earning the game's only RBI with the bases-loaded walk. 

The Duhawks have a well-earned day off before returning to action on Thursday, March 17 as they take on Wheaton College (Mass.). First pitch is scheduled for 9:30 AM (ET) at the Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex in Leesburg, Fla.