AUBURNDALE, Fla. – Loras snatched up game one with an 8-5 victory over Ohio Northern but fell 2-1 in game two, wrapping up a 5-2 trip to the Sunshine State.

Game One
Loras (10-5, 0-0 A-R-C) started off hot out the gates, as Max McCallum and Jackson Cullen both singled to start the contest, which was followed up by a sacrifice fly from Cody Sunny that scored McCallum. However, the offense was halted by the pitcher for Ohio Northern (9-4, 0-0 OAC), who chucked three straight innings where he struck out at least two Duhawks.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Polar Bears managed four runs and six hits and took a 4-1 lead over the Duhawks. This was despite a solid outing from starting pitcher Austin Sheldon, who was taken aback with the offensive onslaught from Ohio Northern.

However, the bats had his back, and the Purple and Gold immediately responded with three runs in the top half of the fifth. Sophomore Jake Olszewski and junior Alex Sandoval reached on walks, and McCallum reached on an error, which loaded the bases with one out. One swing of the bat, and the bases were emptied, as Cullen sent a shot out into left field that bounced to the wall, scoring all three.

In the top of the sixth, the Duhawks blew the game open with four more runs, off multiple hits from Trevor Segraves, McCallum, and Cullen, along with some free bases that were given away by the Polar Bear pitching staff.

Sheldon stayed in and closed out the contest, getting the complete game victory and assisting his team in an 8-5 win.

Game Two
We had a good old-fashioned pitcher's duel in game two. Sophomore Daniel Giusto started on the bump and was solid for the Duhawks, going four and one third innings, collecting three strikeouts and allowing only one hit.

However, the defensive prowess for Loras wasn't enough to come away with a win, as they couldn't get the timely hits when they needed them most.

With the game sitting at 2-1 in favor of Ohio Northern in the bottom of the fifth, the Purple and Gold had runners at second and third with only one out. In a favorable count, Sunny sent a ball screaming down the third base line that seemed destined to capture the lead and potentially give the Duhawks a win. However, the third baseman snatched those hopes out of mid-air, and stepped on third as well, which ended the inning and subsequently, ended Loras' chances to win.
Despite wonderful a wonderful relief effort from Kayden Shivers, the offense just couldn't find their legs, and the Polar Bears bested the Duhawks 2-1.

On the Brink of History
The Purple and Gold went a respectable 5-2 in the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational, which is made all the more impressive considering the difficult schedule they were given.

Furthermore, Carl Tebon sits at 599 career wins as head baseball coach at Loras College, with a chance to reach 600 looming in their upcoming trip to Nebraska Wesleyan.

On Deck: Loras travels to Lincoln, Neb. to take on the Prairie Wolves of Nebraska Wesleyan University on March 21 at 6:00 p.m.