TOPEKA, Kan. - The Loras baseball team squeaked out a win in game one and dropped an extra inning contest in game two in their season-opening series against Macalester College.

Game One
It didn't take long for the Duhawks to get on the board, as a pair of hit-by-pitches and a walk set up Vince Polizzi for a two-RBI single off the wall in the first. Loras (1-1, 0-0 A-R-C) was able to load up the bases on two occasions in the top frame but failed to plate any more runs that inning.

Starting pitcher Daniel Giusto coasted through five innings, striking out six, but ran into some trouble in the sixth. Macalester (1-1, 0-0 MIAC) found life with Giusto issuing a walk and allowing a base hit before being relieved by Andrew Krause. The very next hitter lined a double to left field, knocking in both baserunners and tying the game.

From here it'd go back and forth, with Loras scoring two in the seventh thanks to timely hits from Ryan Quinlan, Jackson Cullen, and Polizzi, and the Scots having an immediate answer in the bottom frame.

In the ninth, just like before, Quinlan and Cullen worked their way on-base, setting up Polizzi with two on and one out. This time the Naperville, Ill. native pelted a ball to the shortstop who couldn't glove it, allowing Quinlan to score and giving the Duhawks a 5-4 advantage. Nolan Czako slapped a sacrifice fly to right in the ninth for good measure, giving Loras their sixth run.

Six is all they'd need, as a run crossed for the Scots in the bottom half, but Dylan Ackermann closed out the game, giving the Duhawks their first victory of 2026, 6-5.

Game Two
The second game saw the Purple and Gold get off to an even better start. They were able to plate five runs in the first, most of which came from a three-run shot for Colin Kissane.

After a bumpy first inning, Adam Williamson navigated the Duhawks through six innings, allowing just two earned runs.

However, just like game one, Loras got caught with their foot off the gas and it came back to bite them. The Duhawks only recorded one hit after the first inning and in the seventh, Macalester scored three runs to knot it up at five a piece. This tie was short-lived, as Kissane broke the trend and hit another homer, his second of the game, to will the Purple and Gold back out in front.

This seemed like the nail in the coffin, and the Duhawks were right on the brink of putting the Scots away, as they had Macalester down to their last strike. Yet, the fight continued for the squad from St. Paul, as they powered a run in, sent it to extras, and put up a four spot in the top frame.

The Duhawks would get the leadoff man on but nothing more, and drop game two, 10-6.

Birthday Bash
Arguably one of the biggest reasons Loras was able to win game one was timely hitting, and no better person to mention for that than Czako. Not only did he have a huge sacrifice fly, but he also celebrated his birthday today! Happy Birthday Nolan!

On Deck: The Purple and Gold are set for a rubber match tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 21 against Macalester, with first pitch slated for 11:00 a.m.