DUBUQUE, Iowa – Loras trounced the University of Dubuque in game two and immediately followed that by completing the largest ninth inning comeback in program history to notch a sweep of their crosstown rivals, 17-2 and 19-18.
Game two was a masterclass of both pitching and hitting for Loras (17-14, 11-7 A-R-C), as they managed nine runs in the first five innings, and used an efficient outing from
Andrew Krause on the bump to keep the game well out of reach.
Five Duhawks collected multi-hit performances, including
Vince Polizzi and
Joey Gumuls who each notched three with a combined seven RBI.
The aforementioned Krause ended up going six innings, allowing three total hits and accumulating eight punch-outs. The senior from Milwaukee also allowed no runs to come across.
It was all-around domination to confirm the series, but game three would go in a much different direction.
This is where the University of Dubuque (11-21, 6-12 A-R-C) came to life, as they managed to score at least one run in every inning spanning from the third onward.
The Duhawks used a carousel of arms to try and slow down the Spartan advance, but nobody could stave them off for long.
This relentless effort led to a ninth inning that saw the Purple and Gold trailing 18-10, with little momentum. But there's a reason you play the games, and Loras put together the grittiest, most incredible comeback effort in recent years.
With one out, Polizzi made the Spartans pay for an error as he belted a double into left center field to score
Jackson Cullen and
Jack Carney, pulling Loras within six. Then,
Colin Kissane followed that up with a hit of his own. Next,
Ben Shea ricocheted a ball to left field, plating a run, and giving the Purple and Gold a glimmer of hope. A pitching change ensued with Loras trailing by five.
The swap didn't work out well for the Spartans, as
Cody Sunny immediately singled to left field, and after a strikeout, Gumuls put a ball through the middle of the infield, scoring a pair, making it 18-15.
Isiah Rose joined the hit parade with a single to third base that forced the shortstop and third basemen to collide into one another. Suddenly the bases were loaded for the Purple and Gold, and that glimmer turned into a bright summer's sun. This was amplified by a Carney two RBI single to center field, and now, after once trailing by eight, Loras had the tying run on third, and the winning run at first.
Cullen worked a walk to load the bases, and then it was mayhem at Petrakis Park. Polizzi hit a ground ball to the shortstop, who tried for the force out at third base. He sailed the throw allowing the tying run to score. There was a race for the baseball as Carney chugged around third. The throw beat him to home plate, but he slid inside and dodged the tag.
The Purple and Gold unloaded out of the dugout, celebrating the third sweep of their rivals in the past four years, and their largest ninth inning comeback in program history.
On Deck: Loras heads on the road to Waverly, Iowa to take on the Knights of Wartburg College. The first pitch is schedule for Friday, April 24 at 6:00 p.m.
