By: Gabby Garcia | Athletic Communications Student Assistant 

May 11, 2023 - The Loras College softball team starts is journey in the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) softball tournament in Cedar Rapids, Iowa for the league's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament on Friday. The Duhawks enter with excitement and confidence as they ended their season with a walk-off double by junior Alyssa Hughes, scoring Abby Jones and Olivia Martinelli to defeat No. 17 Central College last weekend.

Entering the tournament, the Duhawks finished the regular season with a record of 21-14 and a conference record of 9-7 to qualify for postseason play for the first time since 2018. Loras earned the No. 5 seed ahead of this weekend's conference tournament as Coe College and Luther College earned the top two seeds, giving them byes in the opening round. Behind Loras is No. 6 Nebraska Wesleyan University.

Loras' opening matchup will be against the No. 4 seed Wartburg College Knights. During regular season play, Loras and Wartburg faced off in Waverly, Iowa. The Duhawks split the series, winning game one 4-0 and losing game two 8-0. Sophomore starter Ashlyn Hemm pitched a shutout in game one, aiding the Duhawks in their 4-0 defeat against Wartburg.

All matchups in the A-R-C Tournament will be played at Coe College, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Loras' first round game will have a 2 P.M. first pitch on Friday, May 12. If they win, the Duhawks' next game would be on Saturday, May 12 at 11 A.M. versus hosting Kohawks.