CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (May 13, 2023) – For the first time in program history, Loras College baseball hoisted the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Tournament trophy as the Duhawks completed an undefeated tournament run with a 12-7 victory over the University of Dubuque on Saturday.

The third-seeded Duhawks (29-15) took down the fifth-seeded Spartans (29-14) to complete a 4-0 run through the conference tournament and complete a clean 4-0 sweep of their crosstown rivals in 2023, something the team had not done since 2015. With the A-R-C automatic bid in hand, the Duhawks will head off to the NCAA Division III National Tournament next weekend for the first time ever.

Offense powered the Duhawks to all four of their wins this weekend at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids, including the clincher on Saturday. After Dubuque took down top-seeded Buena Vista University to start Saturday's action, the Spartans kept it rolling with a run in the top of the first inning to grab an early lead over Loras.

Per the theme of the weekend, the Duhawks responded right back with three runs in the bottom half as junior Daniel Rogers singled home senior Dakota Church to set the table for a two-run homer for junior Nick DiBenedetto that put the Duhawks up 3-1.

Loras tacked on two more in the second inning as Church and DiBenedetto tallied RBIs that ran the score up to 5-1. The Spartans chipped away with lone runs in the third and fourth innings, but it wasn't enough to swing the momentum as the Duhawks poured on six more in the bottom of the fourth to push the lead to 11-3. A three-run homer for senior Ryan Wohlers bookended the scoring in that frame for the Duhawks.

Both teams added a handful of runs as the game continued, but never in bunches as the Duhawks maintained a steady lead before handing it off to senior Ethan Peters in the eighth. The senior lefty got the final six outs and allowed just one hit and one unearned run while striking out three to put the finishing touches on the title run.

As the A-R-C's automatic qualifier for the national tournament, the Duhawks will learn their regional destination and opponents during the NCAA Selection Show on Monday, May 15, at 11 A.M.