The softball team found its power stroke Saturday in a doubleheader against Iowa Conference powerhouse Luther — the No. 4-ranked team in Division III — at Faber-Clark Field.

First-year outfielder Katie Sharp hit a grand slam in the first game, but Luther still managed to win the game, 6-5. In the second game of the twinbill, Loras slammed two more home runs to beat the nationally ranked Norse, 8-5.

Coach Katie Koopmann liked what she saw of her players in the second game of the doubleheader.

“We were able to compete and stay with a great team,” she said. “Every time they scored, we answered and were able to win against the  fourth-ranked team in a big win for seniors Christina Schmidt, Kim Chalekian and Chrissy Reed.

“(Sophomore pitcher) Michelle Sabatini pitched her heart out and shut them out in the sixth and seventh innings, when it mattered the most,” Koopmann added.

In the second game, junior second-baseman Michelle Bahl hit a home run in the bottom of the first inning to get the Duhawks on the right track.

“Michelle is also another great hitter and defender,” Koopmann said. “When she is patient at the plate
and is hitting her pitch, she is deadly. At any point, she can jack a home run or a single to give us some runs.  She is another go-to person and is a great second-baseman.”

In the bottom of the third inning, sophomore catcher Tracy Sullivan doubled in Bahl and Reed to highlight a three-run outburst. In the bottom of the fifth inning, a monster three-run blast by Chalekian turned out to be the difference.

Loras now has a 12-12 record overall and a 3-7 record in the conference. But its record could just as easily be 7-3 in the league. The Duhawks have lost three conference games by one run and another in extra innings.