The softball team opened its Iowa Conference season with its hands full on Thursday. On the agenda was a doubleheader against Central, the No. 6-ranked team in NCAA Division III.

Central proved its ranking is no fluke in the first game by beating Loras handily, 10-0. The Duhawks then suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 loss in the nightcap.

Central’s primary weapon was outstanding pitching. Kylie Lythberg shut down Loras’ offensive attack for four innings in the first game and for five innings in the second. Two different relief pitchers were equally effective, pitching two scoreless innings to close out the two wins.

The Duhawks managed just four hits in the doubleheader, and first-year Beth Miller had two of the four. Another bright spot was the performance of first-year pitcher Kellie Klein, who held Central to just one run on six hits in the second game. She now has an impressive 1.88 earned-run-average so far the season.

Nonetheless, the Duhawks had every reason to be confident when they entered the showdown with Central. Loras opened the season with a flurry of games — 13 games in 10 days. The Duhawks sported an 8-5 record entering conference play.

Here’s an interesting stat: In seven of their eight wins this year, the Duhawks won by wide margins — four runs or more. On the other hand, Loras now has lost four out of its five one-run games.

A case in point was a pair of games last week. Loras cruised by Oberlin College prior to losing its second close game to Manchester College in as many days. Manchester beat Loras by scores of 1-0 and 3-1.

Senior Michelle Bahl has been the hitting star for Loras in the early going. As of a week ago, she was leading Division III in home runs, with six. Bahl also leads the team with 17 runs-batted in, 15 runs scored and a lofty .436 batting average.

Miller is chasing Bahl for the team batting title. She now has a .378 batting average in addition to 12 runs scored and 11 RBIs.

On Saturday, the Duhawks will try to get back on track when they host a doubleheader against cross-town rival University of Dubuque. The first game is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.