DUBUQUE, Iowa – After 22 games away from home, the Loras College softball team earned a split in their home opener against Nebraska Wesleyan University Saturday afternoon. 

Both teams took advantage of a windy day as the home run ball played a key part in both games. Nebraska Wesleyan (18-5 overall, 1-1 A-R-C) got two home runs in game one, while Loras (14-10, 1-3) scored all of their runs on the day via the long ball.

Game One: Loras 2, Nebraska Wesleyan 8

Nebraska Wesleyan got runs in four different innings while Loras scored both of their runs in the second inning. 

The Prairie Wolves got a run in the first inning, and a run in the second inning thanks to a home run by Taylor Korecky. Loras responded in the bottom half of the second with a two-run home run off the bat of Katherine Svigelj. Nebraska Wesleyan would get another home run in the fifth inning that seemed to spark the Prairie Wolves offense as they would add five unanswered runs over the next two innings to take game one, 8-2.

Game Two: Loras 1, Nebraska Wesleyan 0

A solo home run by Ava Franklin was all the Duhawks needed in their 1-0 win in game two.

The sophomore middle infielder belted her first home run of her career to give Loras their only run of the game in the third inning. The Duhawks offense was slowed down and only had two hits over the remaining three innings in a game that was controlled by pitchers. Loras starter Ashlyn Hemm put together yet another complete game in the circle. Hemm allowed no runs on four hits, while striking out eight. Nebraska Wesleyan starter Eva Fahrnbruch threw five innings, allowing the one home run and four hits. 

Up Next: Loras will host Simpson College on April 11. Game one of the doubleheader will begin at 2:00 p.m.