Contact: Emily Adlfinger, Director of Athletic Communications, 563-588-7970 (written by Zak Talbot, Athletic Communications Student Assistant)

Apr. 9, 2022 - Enjoying a welcomed change in the spring weather, the No. 22 Loras College softball team (16-2, 3-1 A-R-C) faced the Buena Vista Beavers (19-9, 3-3 A-R-C) at home at Faber-Clark Field for the first time since 2018 on Saturday for a sunny American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) double header, splitting the two games with a 2-0 win behind a team shutout and stellar defense in the first and dropping the second, 5-0.
 
The first inning started off well for the Duhawks in the first game with three outs within the first four batters faced. The hot start was followed by similar energy in the dugout as the Duhawks saw their first at bats of the afternoon. With two outs and no runners on, Grace Houghton roped a pitch into deep left field that left the field of play in a hurry. The deep shot marked Houghton's first home run of the season and her eighth RBI. After some action on the bases in the top of the second by the Beavers, freshman pitcher Ashlyn Hemm led the Duhawks out of a jam, striking out the batter with the bases loaded to keep the shutout for another inning.
 
Stellar pitching would be the game plan for both teams for the following innings, as neither team could scrape across any runs and very few hits. Hemm would add five more strikeouts to her total, as she continued to establish herself as one of the most efficient pitchers in the nation. The Duhawks found some more energy in the bottom of the fifth with a leadoff walk from Nicole Bendig. With Bendig on first, shortstop Claire Peachey laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runner to second. As the top of the order rolled around for the Duhawks, Ellie Schill hit a ball to the left center gap for a two out single that brought Bendig into score the second and final run of the game.
 
Hemm continued to get ahead in pitch counts earlier as she has all year, and posted a three up, three down seventh inning to retire the Beavers and add another game into her own and the Duhawks win column.
 
In the second game of the afternoon, after a scoreless first inning for both teams, the Beavers would break the tie in the top of the second, pulling ahead 4-0. Starting pitcher Shandi Rulli would finish with 1.0 innings pitched, and was succeeded by Reagan Spence who would finish the game out for the Duhawks. Unable to get the offense rolling in the second game, the Duhawks were limited to three hits in total, and allowed one more to the Beavers in the third inning, as the final score would fall to 5-0.

Houghton led the Duhawks in hits on the day, going 3-6 between both games, with one RBI.
 
Continuing their conference campaign and looking to climb in the national rankings, the Duhawks will start the week in Pella, Iowa as they face the Central College Dutch on Monday, Apr. 11 in the rescheduled double header. First pitch is slated for 1:00 P.M with the second game following shortly after.