DUBUQUE, Iowa – For the first time in program history, the Loras College softball team swept the No. 23 Central College Dutch to celebrate senior day.
Game One, Loras 5, No. 23 Central College 4
The Dutch found themselves on the board early in game one thanks to an RBI single from Larissa Miller that scored Hayley Bach.
Kaili Henning, who got the start in game one, provided her own offense with a solo homerun to left field in the bottom of the first to tie the game, 1-1.
Central (22-7 Overall, 7-4 A-R-C) would go on to score three unanswered runs and take a 4-1 lead into the top of the fifth inning thanks to RBIs from Emma Jensen and Rylee Dunkin.
In the fifth inning, the Duhawks would start to chip away at the deficit.
Whitney Leipold reached on a base hit to get the inning started. After a lineout,
Ava Franklin delivered an RBI double to score Leipold and cut the Dutch lead to two (4-2). The following at-bat, Henning launched her second home run of the game to even the score at four.
Central threated in the bottom of the sixth, but a great defensive play from
Clare Murphy, and a groundout from Hannah Higgins put an end to the threat and gave Loras all the momentum headed into the sixth inning.
In that inning,
Dana Skorich delivered a go-ahead solo home run to put her team in front, 5-4. Henning would go onto retire the side in order in the top of the seventh to give Loras (19-4, 6-7) a much-needed game one win.
Game Two: Loras 3, No. 23 Central College 2
Game two of the series was dominated by pitching and defense.
Kiya Steger got the ball for Loras (20-14, 7-7) and threw five shutout innings before giving up a run in the sixth and seventh inning.
On offense, the Duhawks were able to plate the first run in the bottom of the third inning.
Emily Monahan led off the inning with a walk before advancing to third on back-to-back fielder's choices. Monahan would eventually come all the way around to score on a Dutch error to take a 1-0 lead.
Central (22-8, 7-5) tied the game in the top of the sixth with a solo home run off the bat of Alexa Anderson. The Dutch added to their lead in the seventh with a two out RBI double from Mariah Parton to end the inning after a relay from Zoe Espiridon caught Parton trying to take an extra base.
With the game tied heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Duhawks wasted no time getting the bats going.
Katherine Svigelj singled to lead off the frame and Franklin followed suit the following at bat to put runners on first and second with no outs. After a pop out from Loras, Steger stepped up to the plate and came through with a base hit into right center to score Svigelj and walk off the ladder half of the doubleheader.
Up Next: Loras will travel to Buena Vista University on May 2 for their regular season finale. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 1 PM.
