DUBUQUE, Iowa – The Loras College softball team celebrated senior day with a doubleheader sweep over Buena Vista University on Saturday afternoon. The Duhawks have now won four consecutive contests against the Beavers.
Game One: Loras 5, Buena Vista University 3
Neither team was able to plate a run in the first two innings until Loras (17-11 overall, 4-4 A-R-C) erupted with a five-run third inning. The Duhawks opened the inning with an
Olivia Martinelli walk, followed by an
Ava Franklin double to put runners on second and third.
Morgan Machovec delivered a bunt single to give the Duhawks their first run of the game. The Duhawks would then get back-to-back SAC flies by
Alyssa Hughes and Peyton Meier to give Loras a 3-0 lead.
Whitney Leipold capped off the inning with a two-run homerun over the center field fence to extend their lead.
Buena Vista (7-24, 0-8) would get a run in the fourth inning and two runs in the fifth to cut the Loras lead to two. The Beavers would not go away as they would load the bases in the top half of the seventh inning. But it was
Ashlyn Hemm who slammed the door and struck out the last Beaver batter to end the game.
Hemm earned her eighth win of the year for the Duhawks with 13 strikeouts while allowing four hits.
Game Two: Loras 4, Buena Vista 1
Loras wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as they plated two in the bottom of the first inning thanks to a two-run double off the bat of
Clare Murphy.
The Duhawks would get two more in the fourth to extend their lead.
Katherine Svigelj led the inning off with a base hit before stealing second. After Machovec reached on a hit by pitch, Meier came through with a two-run double of her own to give the Purple and Gold a 4-0 lead.
Buena Vista got a run back in the fifth before
Shandi Rulli struck out the side in the seventh inning to complete the sweep. Rulli went seven innings, allowing four hits and one run while striking out seven.
Up Next: Loras will take a break from A-R-C play as they travel to Mount Vernon, Iowa to take on Cornell College. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
