Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

STORM LAKE, Iowa — Loras College softball team swept Buena Vista University on Saturday afternoon. The Duhawks used a historic game one and hot bats in game two to complete the sweep in their regular season finale. 

Game One: Loras 12, Buena Vista University 0 F/5

In the first inning, Katherine Svigelj lined a ball center field, turning into a inside-the-park homerun, driving in the game's first run. Kiya Steger followed with a two-run homer of her own, bringing Kaili Henning home. This gave the Duhawks (25-12, 8-7 A-R-C) an early lead, finishing the inning up 3-0.
 
The fourth inning was pivotal as the Duhawks extended their lead with six runs in the frame. Gillian Jones doubled to lead off the inning and Svigelj's double two batters later brought her home. Then came the two-out rally from the Duhawks. Ava Franklin and Henning each added RBI singles. Steger then hit her second home run of the game, a two-run shot to plate Franklin and Hennng. Dana Skorich and Laurissa Klapatauskas added back-to-back hits, with Klapatauskas driving in another run, pushing the score to 9-0 before the rally ended.
 
In the fifth, Ellie Baker singled and scored on a Franklin sacrifice bunt. Steger capped the inning with her third home run, another two-run shot, extending the lead. The performance set a new Loras College single-game record for Steger with three home runs and now places her in a tie for first for most homeruns in a single season with nine.
 
Game one also featured a remarkable achievement by Henning. The Loras ace threw the third perfect game in Loras College history. She retired all 15 batters, allowed no walks and struck out eight Beavers.

Game Two: Loras 10, Buena Vista University 2

Loras was on the board early in game two, as Skorich drove in the first run of the game, with the help of a BVU error. The Beavers responded with a run of their own in the bottom half of the first. Jordan Fabirkiewicz singled to drive in Maddy Raveling, who singled to lead off the inning.

The home team later took a one-run lead in the bottom of the second inning with a RBI single from Jaylynn Craun.

The Purple and Gold responded with a three-run inning of their own in the top of the third. Skorich drove in her second run of the game, this time plating Franklin who singled. Jones later brought Skorich home with an RBI single herself, and Ashli Bossom also singled in a pinch-hit appearance to bring home Klapatauskas.

The Duhawks got two more runs in the fourth thanks to another Skorich RBI and a wild pitch, allowing Henning to score.

Loras added four more runs, thanks in large part to Steger, who had 3 RBIs in her last two plate appearances. Skorich delivered the final run for the Duhawks with another RBI single.

Rachel Peat got the win in game two to cap off an undefeated regular season for the senior.

Up Next: With the sweep, Loras has qualified for the A-R-C Conference Tournament next Friday. The Duhawks will learn the location and their opponent after the conclusion of Saturdays games.