DECORAH, Iowa – Loras College (13-7 overall, 2-2 American Rivers) split its Saturday doubleheader against Luther College (15-8, 4-4), falling 10-3 in game one and routing the Norse, 17-6, in game two.

After Cody Sunny put the Duhawks on the board in the first inning with an RBI single, Luther would take control of the game and score the next six runs over the next four innings. Trevor Seagraves scored off an error in the fifth inning to bring Loras within four, but the Norse would respond with four runs at the bottom of the eighth inning to put the game out of reach.

John Cornelius finished off the scoring with an RBI single at the top of the ninth, his second of the season.

In game two, Luther jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning, but Vince Polizzi knocked out a three-run home run at the top of the second to give Loras the 3-2 lead. Luther, however, would respond with a three-run second inning to regain its lead, which wouldn't last very long as the Duhawks utilized a four-run third inning to jump back in front and regain control of the game.

Sunny got the third inning started with a sacrifice fly, scoring Nick DiBenedetto. Polizzi followed that up with an RBI double, before Max McCallum singled to right, bringing Polizzi home. A passed ball that scored Alex Sandoval ended the scoring for Loras, giving the Duhawks a 7-5 advantage.

The Norse made things interesting after scoring a run in the fifth to make it a one run game, but the Purple and Gold's offense exploded in the sixth inning to the tune of six runs, highlighted by Polizzi hitting his second home run of the day, a grand slam that pushed the Duhawks in front by seven (13-6).

The Loras offense didn't stop there as the Duhawks scored four more runs in the eighth inning to close out the game, 17-6.

Polizzi finished the day 3-for-6 at the plate with a single game career-high nine RBIs and three runs scored. Segraves led the team in hits, going 5-for-8 with two RBIs.  

Danny Hiemer got the win in the second game, throwing five innings while allowing only one run and striking out four.

UP NEXT
Loras returns to action on Sunday in a rescheduled match up with Nebraska Wesleyan University. The game is set to be played at Petrakis Park unless the playing conditions aren't suitable. If that occurs, the game will shift to the University of Dubuque's baseball field. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. but may be subject to change due to impending weather conditions. Stay tuned to Duhawks.com, Loras Baseball's Twitter, and Loras College Athletics on Facebook for any updates to game time.