Timely hitting, strong pitching lift Loras in day one sweep

DUBUQUE, Iowa – Eric DeSousa hit a walk-off single in game one and Patrick Walsh held Simpson to two hits in game two as Loras swept the Simpson baseball team 4-3 (8) and 6-0 on Friday afternoon.

The Storm (5-10, 1-5 Iowa Conference) and the Duhawks (10-4, 4-0) conclude their four-game series Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.

Game 1: Loras 4, Simpson 3 (8)
DeSousa hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the eighth and Loras topped Simpson 4-3 in game one of the four-game series.

With two outs, DeSousa – who went 2-for-4 – scored Nate Even from second for the game-winner. Even stole second after entering the game as a pinch runner.

Adam Schwoebel (3-0) struck out six in the complete-game win for the Duhawks.

Jake Scieszinski gave Simpson a 2-1 lead with a two-RBI single in the third and Tyler Craig made it 3-1 when he and Tyler Crandell hit back-to-back doubles in the fifth.

The lead was short-lived as Loras tied it up with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Mike Canavello hit a bases-loaded single and Jordan Ries hit a sacrifice fly to even the score 3-3.

The top of the lineup produced six of Simpson's eight hits, as Jake Barr, Crandell and Craig finished with two apiece. Matt Pennings (1-2) got Simpson out of a jam in the fifth, but took the loss in relief of Jose Rodriguez.

Game 2:Loras 6, Simpson 0
Aaron Young held the Loras offense to two hits over the first four innings but Mike Pudlo broke a scoreless tie on an RBI single in the fifth and Loras went on to beat Simpson 6-0 in the nightcap.

After Young issued back-to-back walks in the fifth, Pudlo singled through the left side to give Loras a 1-0 lead. Canavello, Ries and Cody Richter all drove in runs as the Duhawks scored four in the inning.

Craig and Jake Esdorh came away with the only hits for Simpson, as Walsh (1-0) struck out 11 in the complete-game win.

Young (0-4) struck out five and walked four in the loss.