DECORAH, Iowa – The Loras College softball team suffered a pair of losses against Luther College to open American River Conference play.

Loras fell in game one of the doubleheader 3-1 before suffering a 4-3 loss in extra innings in game two.

Game One: Loras 1, Luther College 3

Pitchers dominated most of game one as both teams combined for only six hits. Luther (17-5 overall, 2-0 A-R-C) was able to get a run in the first inning thanks to an RBI single by Raven Allen. Ashlyn Hemm was able to quiet the Norse offense before a two-run fourth inning that proved to be the difference. Alyssa Hughes was able to give Loras (13-8, 0-1) their only run of the game with an RBI single in the fifth inning. Olivia Engler would hold the Duhawks scoreless for the remainder of the game for the Norse to take game one by a score of 3-1. 

Game Two: Loras 3, Luther College 4

In game two, neither team was able to get going offensively as both pitchers threw four shutout innings to start the game. In the fifth inning, Hughes put an end to the shutout as she delivered a two-run home run to give Loras (13-9, 0-2) a 2-0 lead. Luther (17-5, 2-0) was able to respond in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI double to cut the lead in half. In the following inning, the Norse got an RBI SAC fly that scored Abby Spore to tie the game at two. Both teams were held scoreless in the seventh inning as the game would move to extra innings.

After a scoreless eighth inning, the Duhawks were able to get a run in the top of the ninth. Gillian Jones came through for Loras with an RBI single that platted Hughes. In the bottom half of the frame, Luther got a two out hit before Ken Vavrichek hit a walk off home run for the Norse.

Up Next: Loras will continue American Rivers Conference play as they welcome Nebraska Wesleyan University to Faber-Clark Field for the Duhawks home opener. Game one of the doubleheader is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 6.