DUBUQUE, Iowa – After 18 games away from home, the Loras College softball team opened American Rivers Conference play with a series against the University of Dubuque at Faber-Clark Field. The Duhawks took game one before dropping game two.
Game One: Loras 3, University of Dubuque 2
Runs were hard to come by early in game one, with only one run being scored in the first four innings thanks to solid pitching and defense from both teams.
Dana Skorich put Loras (12-7 overall, 1-0 American Rivers Conference) on the board with an RBI double in the bottom of the first, scoring Ava Franklin who reached on a base hit. The Duhawks added two more runs in the fifth inning thanks to back-to-back doubles from Katherine Svigelj and Franklin. The Spartans (11-6, 0-1) would plate two runs of their own in the top of the sixth inning. However, it was Svigelj who came in and closed the door in the seventh inning, putting an end to the UD comeback attempt.
Franklin led the way for the Purple and Gold, going 2-of-3 with an RBI. Svigelj, Skorich, and Whitney Leipold also recorded hits, with Skorich recording an RBI.
In the circle, Kaili Henning earned her fourth win of the season. Henning threw six innings, allowing two runs, no walks, and striking out four batters.
Game Two: Loras 9, University of Dubuque 18
With the wind blowing at Faber-Clark, both squads took advantage and would combine to hit four home runs in a high-scoring second game. The two teams combined for 27 runs on 33 hits.
Katie Haynes gave the Spartans (12-6, 1-1) a 2-0 lead just three batters into the game with her two-run home run. Loras (12-8, 1-1) was able to get a run back in the bottom half of the first with an RBI double from Henning. After a three-run top of the second for UD, the Duhawks responded with a six-run second inning. With the first three Loras batters reaching base, Emily Monahan would come across to score on a wild pitch. After Henning was hit by a pitch, Kiya Steger reached on another Spartan error to allow two more runs to score. The very next at bat, Skorich singled up the middle to load the bases for Ashley Bossom, who delivered a two RBI base hit to tie the game at five. Rachel Peat ended the six-run inning with a SAC fly to give Loras a one run lead (6-5).
The University of Dubuque would not go away and would come back with a four-run third inning, a three-run fifth inning, and ultimately put the game away with a six-run seventh inning to split the doubleheader. During that stretch, the Purple and Gold would only plate two more runs, a two-run home run from Steger.
Steger led the Loras offense in game two with a 2-of-4 effort that included four RBIs. Henning followed behind, going 2-of-2 with two runs scored and an RBI. Peat and Bossom each recorded one and three RBIs, respectively.
Up Next: Loras will return to Faber-Clark Field for a nonconference matchup with Cornell College on Saturday, March 29. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 1 p.m. with game two starting at 3 p.m.
