DUBUQUE, Iowa - Although it wasn't easy, the Duhawks battled through adversity, overcame a deficit, and flew past their conference foes in a 17-11 win Sunday afternoon.

Simpson (19-12, 10-6 A-R-C) had a rough start to the day, with the Purple and Gold working across five runs in the second inning on one hit. After three runs found home, Vince Polizzi got Loras (15-14, 9-7 A-R-C) into the hit column with a two RBI single to left.

With some leverage early, the Duhawks seemed poised to follow that with a zero on the other side of the ball. However, a costly error extended the inning and quickly the third spiraled out of control. In total, six runs scored for the Storm in the third, which was followed by another three in the fourth.

With all the momentum with the visitors, the Purple and Gold desperately needed a spark and it was provided in the fifth.

It all began when the freshman Isiah Rose chopped a groundball down the third base line, sneaking it past the Simpson hot corner to score a run. From there, a pair hit paydirt with a Joey Gumuls two RBI double, and Gumuls then cashed in on a throwing error by the catcher to tie the game 9-9.

Yet the inning wasn't quite finished, as Polizzi notched another hit, and Colin Kissane broke out of his cold spell with a two run double.

The onslaught set the stage perfectly for the Purple and Gold's victory, as this big fifth inning flipped the script of the contest, and the Duhawks were unrelenting in their attack.

A small push in the seventh was promptly squashed by Loras in the following frame as they managed to score four runs, with Alex Sandoval and Liam Sullivan leading the charge. They then added the cherry on top in the eighth as Jackson Cullen came across.

It was left up to the redshirt senior Dylan Ackermann to close, and the reliever once again delivered a gem, as the Purple and Gold successfully closed out a rubber match victory.

On Deck: Loras has a day off before they finish up their series versus their crosstown rivals Tuesday, April 21. The University of Dubuque will come to Petrakis Park with first pitch time to be announced soon.