KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Loras College softball team capped of an impressive week at THE Spring Games, going 5-1 over their last six games to finish 8-2 for the week.
Loras 5, Benedictine University 2
Benedictine (7-2) was on the board first after an eventful first inning for the Duhawk defense. Loras committed two errors in the frame and gave up two runs because of it. However, from that point on, Loras (7-2) settled down and controlled the remainder of the game.
Gillian Jones was able to get the Purple and Gold on the scoreboard in the fourth inning with her two RBI single that scored
Dana Skorich, who singled to lead off the inning, and
Bailey Welu, who pinch ran for
Abigail Cortez.
Loras got two more runs an inning later, this time after an RBI double from
Ava Franklin and a nifty first and third steal play from the Duhawks. Loras got their final run in the seventh, thanks to a base hit off the bat of
Kiya Steger.
Kaili Henning got her first win of the season. The Fort Dodge, Iowa native threw a complete game, allowing just three hits, one earned run, and stuck out eight Eagles.
Loras 12, Russell Sage 1
After a day off and a slow start in game one, the Duhawks came out firing against the Gators (3-3).
Loras (8-2) put up a four spot in the opening frame, followed by a six run second inning, and a two run third.
In the first, the Purple and Gold got RBIs from base hits off the bat of
Kiya Steger,
Alyson Krogman, and Jones. In the second inning, the Duhawks scored on a Russell Sage wild pitch, followed by a SAC fly from Skorich. Steger delivered a RBI double the following at bat that brought home Henning, and Krogman replaced Steger at second base with an RBI double of her own.
Rachel Peat got her third win of the season to move to 3-0 in the circle. She got through four innings of work, allowing four hits, one run, and struck out five. Steger earned her second save of the season while striking out two of the three batters she faced.
Loras 3, Washington and Jefferson 0
Loras (9-2) benefited from great pitching and defense to get day six started.
Abigail Cortex got her third win of the year after throwing four strong innings. She allowed five hits and no runs.
Steger was responsible for two of the three Duhawk runs with her RBI triple in the bottom of the first inning that plated Franklin and Skorich. Jones added one more run to the box score with her base hit that scored
Laurissa Klapatauskas in the fourth.
Henning earned her third save of the year after recording the final nine outs of the game, seven of which came via the strikeout.
Loras 8, Montclair State 0
The second to last day in Florida was dominated by pitching as the Duhawks didn't allow a single run all day.
Steger got her third win of the year, throwing a five-hit shutout in the win.
Henning got the Purple and Gold offense off to a hot start, lining a base hit to left field to bring in the first run of the game. Franklin scored two batters later thanks to a single from Steger to take an early 2-0 lead.
After a run in the second and third innings, the Duhawks capped off the run-rule with a three run fourth inning. Steger delivered RBIs number two and three of the day with a double to right center. Jones continued her hot day with a RBI single and
Ellie Baker delivered the final run with a fielder's choice.
Loras 0, Worcester Polytechnic Institute 3
The first game of the final day featured a pitchers duel between WPIs (7-0) Naomi Bolderbuck and Loras' (10-3) Henning. The two righties went out for out for seven innings before Henning gave up a two-run home run in the top of the eighth to Lucy Latour.
The Duhawks had their opportunities to score, but ultimately left eight runners on base in the loss.
Even though Henning was credited with a loss, the sophomore threw 7.2 innings, allowing just the two runs, while striking out 10.
Loras 13, University of Maine-Farmington 1
After falling in extra innings the game prior, the Duhawks got a huge bounce back, thanks to large part in stellar pitching and a hot offense.
Steger dominated in the circle, earning her fourth win of the year after throwing five innings, allowing three hits and one unearned run.
Offensively, the 13 runs were the most scored in the week. The Duhawks got RBIs from five different players, including three from Franklin, who was 3-for-3 at the plate. Svigelj,
Grace Vidmar, and Skorich each added RBIs of their own, while Steger capped off a hot week with three RBIs of her own.
Up Next: Loras will return to the field on Mar. 21 for a doubleheader against the Monmouth College Scots. First pitch from the Monmouth College Softball Field is scheduled for 1 p.m.
