Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

STORM LAKE, Iowa – The Loras baseball team split its doubleheader with Buena Vista University on Saturday afternoon. After falling 12-6 in the first game, the Duhawks (22-13 overall, 11-8 American Rivers) responded with a come-from-behind 6-5 victory in the second half of the twin bill.

With the win, Loras now sits one spot behind Luther for third place in the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) standings with four games to play. Buena Vista (25-10, 14-6) is second in the standings behind Coe College. Wartburg and Dubuque round out the top-six teams in the A-R-C heading into Saturday evening.
 
Game One
In the series opener, Daniel Rogers gave Loras the early lead after homering in the first inning, which made history and gave the senior out of Grayslake, Ill. the career hits record for Loras with 219. The Duhawks managed to keep the Beavers off the board through the first frame but didn't have much luck in the second as Buena Vista would go on to plate four, leading it 4-1 following the inning.

The Duhawks responded with their second run of the game after an RBI single from Jackson Cullen in the third before tying things up in the fifth inning after back-to-back RBI singles from Rogers and Nick DiBenedetto.

BVU regained the lead in the bottom half of the fifth after a double scored three, making it a 7-4 game. The Beavers tacked on another run in the sixth to go up four.

DiBenedetto hit a sacrifice fly to score Cullen in the seventh to bring the Duhawks back within three, but Buena Vista would go on to score four runs between the seventh and eighth innings to take a commanding 12-5 lead.

An RBI single by Vince Polizzi in the ninth inning would signify the last run of the game for the Duhawks.

Rogers was 4-for-5 at the plate with two RBIs and two runs scored. Max McCallum followed by going 3-for-5, while DiBenedetto finished with two RBIs and two hits.

Austin Sheldon pitched six innings and struck out two, while Kayden Shivers finished the final two innings of the game, striking out one.
 
Game Two
The Beavers kicked off the second game with three runs in the first inning. From there, it became a pitcher's duel, as no runs were scored over the next five innings for either team. BVU broke the streak with an RBI single in the seventh to take a 4-0 lead.

The Duhawks got on the board at the top of the eighth inning as DiBenedetto recorded his first hit of the game, an RBI single to score Cullen. After two walks loaded the bases, Alex Sandoval reached by way of a fielder's choice, allowing DiBenedetto to score from third. An error by BVU's shortstop paved the way for John Cornelius to score, trimming Loras' deficit to one.

With two outs in the inning, Trevor Segraves slapped one to short, but another error by the shortstop allowed Jack Carney to score and knotted things up. McCallum ended the inning with an RBI single to give the Purple and Gold its first lead of the game.

The next inning, DiBenedetto recorded his second hit and RBI of the contest off a double, giving Loras the 6-4 advantage.

BVU found a way to plate one in the ninth, but Danny Heimer was able to get the final Beaver batter to fly out to slam the door shut on any walk off opportunity.

McCallum, DiBenedetto, Sandoval, and Segraves each led the way with two hits. Andrew Krause started on the mound and threw six innings while striking out three. Daniel Giusto picked up the win and pitched two innings with two batters retired, while Heimer earned the save – his third of the season.
 
UP NEXT
The Duhawks and Beavers square off for the series Sunday, April 28 at 10 a.m.