Loras College Athletics

DUBUQUE, Iowa - One breakout inning in game two doomed the Duhawks in a low scoring affair, then a late comeback effort stifled the home team, as Coe swept Loras 7-2 and 8-6.
 
Game two was low scoring in nature, with two power right-handed arms dishing it out for both clubs. Daniel Giusto was able to hold off the Kohawk offense for long enough to allow Jake Zeal to give the Purple and Gold a 1-0 lead on a single in the third.
 
In the fifth, the Kohawks hit paydirt twice against Giusto with back-to-back RBI singles, giving them a 2-1 lead, and forcing a pitching change for Loras (18-19, 12-12 A-R-C).
 
Coe (27-12, 17-7 A-R-C) added one on in the sixth, essentially striking the nail in the coffin. Jackson Cullen put forth his best effort, going 2-for-4, and Jack Carney had a 2-for-3 game but it wasn't enough to put them back into the game, as the home team fell.
 
Game three saw the Purple and Gold collect an early 3-0 lead in the first with Colin Kissane knocking an RBI single, Ben Shea following suit, and a wild pitch plating the third run.
 
The Kohawks responded in the second inning with two runs of their own, worked to tie the game in the fourth, and eventually stole the lead in the sixth making it a 4-3 ballgame. The Duhawk bats went uncharacteristically quiet, so they turned to their superstar Vince Polizzi with two runners on in the sixth and he came through.
 
Polizzi lined a ball into right field, plating the pair, and giving the lead back to the home squad. Then, in the seventh, Loras added insurance as Zeal swiped second, and eventually scored on a failed pickoff to second base that rolled into center field.
 
With the score 6-4 in the ninth, the Duhawks needed just three outs to take the third game and finish over .500 in conference play. But, the feisty Kohawks had other plans.
 
They notched four runs in the top frame, and in the bottom, Loras failed to get anything going, culminating in the second sweep of the Purple and Gold this season.
 
On Deck: The Duhawks clinched their way into the A-R-C tournament prior to the series against Coe, but the trio of losses means Loras will either be a five or six seed. If they're a five seed, they'll play Wartburg at 11:00 a.m at Veterans Memorial Stadium, on Thursday, May 7. If they're a six seed, they'll face Simpson at the same day and time, but the contest will take place at Mount Mercy University.