In their first two homes games this season Saturday, the softball team christened the softball field by sweeping cross-town rival University of Dubuque.
Although obviously eager to play on their home field after playing their first 15 games on the road, there were no signs of the jitters.
And first-year starter Kellie Klein pitched like a veteran, tossing a complete game in which she scattered four hits and allowed just one run. She also struck out three Spartans.
The Duhawks scored in the first inning when junior catcher Tracy Sullivan doubled to score senior infielder Michelle Bahl. The duo did damage again in the sixth inning, when Bahl singled and then scored on Sullivan’s home run.
The second game of the doubleheader looked bleak at the beginning, when the Spartans scored five runs in the first inning.
However, Klein entered the game in the second inning and continued right where she left off in her mastery of the Spartans. After pitching a complete game earlier, she proved that she still had plenty left in the tank. Klein went on to pitch another six shutout innings, allowing the Duhawks to rally for an 8-5 victory in the nightcap.
After notching two wins on the day, Klein now holds a 7-4 record.
As for the offensive display, the Duhawks quickly closed the five-run deficit in the bottom of the first. Junior infielder Sara Palczynski got Loras on the scoreboard with a sacrifice fly to drive in the first run.
Then, one batter later, with the bases loaded, first-year infielder Niki Rivera connected for a grand slam over the left-field fence to tie the game at 5.
Later in the game, Bahl and Sullivan drove the final nails in the Spartans’ casket with run-scoring hits.
The sweep of the Spartans put Loras at 2-2 in conference play. Unfortunately for the Duhawks, their league record dropped to 2-4 after they lost two games at Buena Vista University on Tuesday. Buena Vista beat Loras by scores of 5-4 and 6-3
This afternoon, the Duhawks will host a doubleheader against Edgewood College. The first game is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. at the Loras softball field.
