PELLA, Iowa – With their backs against the wall, down to their last out, the battle-tested Duhawks stayed vigilant and never wavered as they came back to steal game one against Central 5-4.

Central College (16-20, 7-15 A-R-C) struck first in the bottom of the second, as a difficult play for shortstop Alex Sandoval turned into disaster, when he sailed the ball over the head of first baseman Cody Sunny allowing a run to score for the Dutch.

But, Loras (18-20, 8-14) had an answer in the ensuing frame, and it was the junior Jackson Cullen who delivered it. Trevor Segraves reached on a single into left, and he was sacrifice bunted over to second by senior Max McCallum. The Purple and Gold just needed a single out of Cullen and it would've knotted up the contest, but the Joliet, Ill. native had other plans. He got the pitch he wanted and skied it deep into right field, eventually finding a home over the right field wall.

The Duhawks were nursing a one-run lead, but it was short-lived, with the Dutch scoring two in the fourth after a walk, an error, and a bases-clearing double that almost turned into a little-league home run if it weren't for a phenomenal throw out of left field from Cullen.

Back and forth both teams went, fighting to find some more help on offense, but both pitching staffs wouldn't budge. For Loras, Dylan Ackermann would relieve Adam Williamson in the seventh, where he'd pick up where Williamson left off.

The top of the ninth arrived, and after only an hour and forty minutes of game time and minimal offensive momentum, it seemed like the Dutch were poised to outlast the prominent Duhawk offense and take home a 3-2 victory. But grit and toughness are the name of the game and Loras displayed every bit of that in the ninth.

It began with Justin Gutierrez singling up the middle, and the Purple and Gold called on Jake Zeal to pinch run for the senior. Then, sophomore Jake Olszewski sacrifice bunted Zeal over to second. The tying run stood on second with only one out now, and the pressure would continue to build as Colin Kissane would work a walk.

A strikeout from the senior Segraves put the Duhawks down to their last out. McCallum stepped up to the dish, and a pair of incredible takes saw him work a full-count walk. Now, with bases loaded, two outs, Loras trailing by one in the top of the ninth, Jackson Cullen approached the plate. His only hit scored two earlier in the game, and with a full-count, Cullen swung away and smoked a ball up the middle. It plated two, allowing Loras to regain a lead that they'd add on to, thanks to a Cody Sunny RBI single, making it 5-3 Duhawks.

Casey Kedzierski and Danny Hiemer both ran into trouble in the bottom of the ninth, allowing one run to score, but Hiemer settled in and found the last three outs to secure a game one victory for the Purple and Gold.

The Dream is Alive
The American Rivers Conference tournament is just under a week away, and with a game one win, Loras simultaneously kept their hopes of postseason play alive, while dashing Central's. The Duhawks, however, must win the next two games and hopefully get some help around the conference to find a way in.

On Deck: The Purple and Gold finish out their series against the Dutch on Friday, May 1 in Pella, Iowa. First pitch of the doubleheader is currently set for 1:00 p.m. at Central College Baseball Field.