PEORIA, Ill. – The Loras College softball team swept its season opener against the North Central College Cardinals on Thursday afternoon at the Louisville Slugger Dome.

Game One: Loras 7, North Central College 4

North Central (0-1 overall) got after Abigail Cortez early and took a 3-0 lead after two innings thanks to RBIs from Nicole Stone and Hailey Morsovillo. Bailey Miller gave NCC another run after her solo home run in the second inning.

Loras (1-0) rallied behind their freshman pitcher and put up a five spot in the top of the third. Gillian Jones was the first Duhawk to reach base in the inning followed by an Ellie Baker walk. Katherine Svigelj then blasted a three-run homer to tie the game. Dana Skorich capped off the five-run inning with a homer of her own that also scored Kaili Henning, who doubled the prior at-bat.

In the top half of the fifth, Ava Franklin added to the Duhawk lead with an RBI single that plated Baker, before Skorich put the final Loras run on the board with her third RBI of the game with a base hit to center that scored Franklin.

After pitching a scoreless third and fourth inning, Cortez was replaced by Henning, who allowed just one run in the seventh to earn her first save of the year. Cortez was credited with her first win as a Duhawk after four innings of work.

Game Two: Loras 6, North Central College 1

In game two, it was the Purple and Gold on the scoreboard first, thanks again to an RBI single off the bat of Skorich in the opening inning.

Like game one, Loras (2-0) utilized a big offensive inning and scored six runs in the second frame. Svigelj delivered the first run of the inning with an RBI fielders choice followed by a base hit from Franklin that scored Baker. Henning followed suit with an RBI single of her own before Skorich capped off a six RBI day with a bases clearing single that plated Henning and Franklin.

Kiya Steger got the ball in game two and threw 5.2 innings, allowing 10 hits and one run while striking out six for her first win of the season. Henning earned back-to-back saves after recording the final four outs of the game to secure the sweep.

Up Next: Loras will travel to Oshkosh, Wis. on Feb. 28 for two games in the UW-Oshkosh Invitational. The Duhawks will take on the host school at 12 p.m before facing off against the University of Wisconsin-Superior at 4 p.m.