CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Although the Duhawks dropped the series with a game two loss to the Kohawks, they managed to steal a thrilling game three and kept their conference tournament hopes alive.

Game Two
The Purple and Gold found themselves down early, after a three-run bottom half of the first from the Kohawks set the tone for the contest.

In the top of the third, the Duhawks found life, with a lead off double from junior Alex Sandoval and a pair of groundouts sending him around to score. Although, Coe (27-8, 17-4 A-R-C) would immediately answer in the bottom frame, scoring two more and extending their lead to 5-1.

Now, Loras (17-20, 7-14) had one of two options down four to the No.18 team in the nation. They could either lay down and give away a free game two victory, or fight tooth and nail and compete. It was evident in the fifth and sixth that the Duhawks had chosen the latter.

Taking advantage of four Kohawk errors, the Purple and Gold forced three runs across over those two innings. Trevor Segraves would bring in sophomore Jake Olszewski to begin the rally, which was followed by Jackson Cullen hitting a ground ball over to third that was thrown away, scoring Segraves.

Then in the sixth, a wild pitch would score Justin Gutierrez, and the deficit was down to one. Unfortunately, Coe hadn't let the errors get to their heads and powered in three runs over the next three innings, setting the Duhawks back and taking a commanding 8-4 lead.

Loras wasn't going to go away without a fight though, as back-to-back two out homers from Cody Sunny and Vince Polizzi in the ninth pulled the Duhawks close once again, but it was too little, too late, and Loras dropped game two, 8-6.

Game Three
A change of pace here, as the Duhawks struck first in quick succession. In the top of the second, Polizzi hit his third bomb of the series, and in the third, Max McCallum scored on a passed ball, creating a two-run cushion for the Purple and Gold.

Then, over the course of the next two innings, the Kohawks swiftly took a lead, with five runs coming across, and they forced a pitching change from Loras. Austin Sheldon was called upon out of the bullpen and he was ultimately one of the driving forces to lead Loras to victory over Coe.

The hot bats kept the Purple and Gold in the game, as the junior Sandoval once again clutched up with an RBI single, and Vince Polizzi hit a two out, two RBI single into left field that would tie up the contest in the eighth inning at five a piece.

Sheldon kept the Kohawks at bay, ultimately working a clean bottom of the ninth, forcing extra innings. In the top of the tenth, Cullen would lead off with a double down the third baseline, and he was sacrificed to third by Sunny. Coe opted to intentionally walk Polizzi, setting up Gutierrez with runners on the corners. The senior would hit a sharp groundball to the shortstop for Coe, who would bobble it for a moment, costing them a double play and allowing Cullen to score.

Then, in the bottom of the tenth, Sheldon got a trio of groundouts and led Loras to their first victory in two weeks.

Tiebreakers and a Prayer
With a game three win, Loras stays in the race for an American Rivers Conference tournament berth, however, they need multiple pieces to fall into place to find themselves in:

- Loras must sweep Central College
- Nebraska Wesleyan must get swept by Luther College
- Simpson beats Dubuque twice OR Dubuque sweeps Simpson OR Simpson sweeps Dubuque

If all three steps were to occur, Loras would enter the tournament as a six seed, which would set them up for a date against Luther College in the first round.

On Deck: The Duhawks head to Pella, Iowa to take on the Dutch of Central College starting on Thursday, May 1. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m.