KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Loras College softball team is off to a 3-1 start at THE Spring games in Kissimmee, Fla. The Duhawks have picked up wins over North Park University, Ohio Northern University, and Wheaton College (Mass.)
Loras 3, Catholic University 4 F/9
The Duhawks first game in Florida called for more than seven innings.
Loras (3-2) opened the scoring in the top half of the second inning thanks to a 2 RBI single off the bat of
Katherine Svigelj that scored
Ellie Baker and
Gillian Jones. Catholic (5-4) was quick to get a run back as Katie Scolese sent a solo home run over the left field fence. The Cardinals tied the game later in the fourth inning after taking advantage of a Duhawk error.
After being held scoreless for three innings, the Duhawks were able to gain momentum in the top of the sixth but were plagued by back-to-back runner interference calls to end the threat.
After a clean eighth inning, Loras was back at the plate and threatening. After
Bailey Welu was placed on second base, and
Gillian Jones reached on an error,
Alyson Krogman attempted a squeeze bunt play, but Welu was picked off at the plate after a great defensive effort from starting pitcher Aubrynn Arcement.
Later in the inning, Svigelj came through with her third RBI of the game with another base-hit that scored Jones to take a 3-2 lead.
Catholic would later get the game winning run after a two-out fly ball fell off the bat of Geneva Webber.
Loras 5, North Park University 3
In game two of day one, the Duhawks (4-2) offense was efficient, totaling five runs on six hits, four walks, and zero strikeouts as a team.
The Vikings (3-2) got on the board first in the opening frame thanks to a RBI double from Kayla Lorenz.
It took some time for the Duhawk bats to get going, but when they did, it resulted in a five-run fourth inning to break the game open.
The first Loras run came at the hands of a hit-by-pitch drawn by Svigelj. The following at bat,
Ava Franklin delivered a SAC fly that plated Welu, who reached on a bunt single earlier in the inning. Baker was the next Duhawk to score after
Kaili Henning singled up the middle to make it a 3-1 game, before
Dana Skorich made it a 4-1 game with her RBI single.
After Loras got another run off a Viking error, NPU responded with a two-run sixth inning to cut into the Duhawk lead. Kati Patton delivered a bases clearing double to cut the lead to two (5-3), but
Kiya Steger pitched a clean top of seventh and Loras came away with their first win of the trip.
Steger was credited with the win to move to 2-0 on the year. She threw all seven innings, allowing three runs on five hits, while striking out seven.
Loras 4, Ohio Northern University 1
The Duhawks and Polar Bears were scoreless through the first two innings as pitching controlled the start of the game.
Franklin broke through and gave Loras (5-2) a 1-0 lead after her RBI single that plated Baker, who singled to lead off the inning. Svigelj continued the scoring an inning later with her infield single that scored Welu, who also reached base with a hit.
Alexa Ray gave Ohio Northern (2-3) their only run of the game with her RBI single that allowed Clare Flory to score.
The Purple and Gold added two more insurance runs in the bottom half of the sixth thanks to a bases loaded walk and hit by pitch.
Abigail Cortez earned her third straight win of the season to move to 3-0 on the year. The freshman threw five innings, allowing nine hits, one earned run, while fanning six. Hennining earned her second gave of the year after recording the final six outs for Loras, three of them which came via the strikeout.
Loras 8, Wheaton College (Mass.) 2
For the first time all week, the Loras offense erupted to the tune of eight runs on 13 hits.
Loras (6-2) got the scoring started in the second inning after a Lyon (4-1) error that allowed Steger to score, who walked to lead off the inning.
After a scoreless two innings from the Duhawk offense, Steger opened the game up with a three-run home run over the left field fence to make it a 4-1 ball game.
Much like the North Park game, Loras added three insurance runs in the top half of the seventh.
Alyson Krogman got the inning started with a base hit to center field, followed by a Duhawk fly out. That set the stage for Cortez who delivered a pinch-hit RBI double to right center to give her team a 5-2 lead.
The next at-bat, Baker's infield single put runners at the corners for Svigelj, who continued to swing a hot bat and drove in Welu and Baker, who stole second. Franklin followed suite with a base hit to center the following at bat to plate Svigelj for the Duhawks final run of the game.
Rachel Peat got the win in the circle for the Purple and Gold. She threw five strong innings, allowing two runs of three hits, while striking out three. Steger earned her first save of the year after throwing a hit less two innings.
Up Next: The Duhawks will return to the field on Thursday, Mar. 12, to take on Benedictine University and Russell Sage College. First pitch is scheduled for 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. respectively.
