Schaumburg, IL – The Dominican University baseball team took on Loras College dropping game one 13-2 before falling 5-2 in extra innings in game two. 

Game One:

Loras started the scoring in the top of the first inning, bringing five runners across home plate to give them an early 5-0 lead. 

In the bottom of the first inning, Anthony Nalbono was hit by a pitch before advancing to second. A single by Keegan Brandt allowed Nalbono to advance to third. A fly out to center-field by the Stars gave Nalbono time to tag up and cross home plate to make it a 5-1 deficit.

The Duhawks responded in the top of the second with a run of their own making it 6-1. In the bottom of the third inning, Brandon Diedrich was able to connect, hitting a single to left-field. Brandt followed with a walk. Diedrich and Brandt each advanced a base on a wild pitch before Diedrich tagged up cutting Loras's lead to 6-2. 

The Stars wouldn't be able to respond the rest of the game as the Duhawks brought a runner around the bases in the fourth to extend their lead to 7-2. Loras scored three runs apiece in the top of the sixth and seventh inning to seal the 13-2 win. 

Game Two:

The Duhawks keep their momentum going into game two as they came out and scored two quick runs in the top of the first inning to give them the early 2-0 lead. The Stars used their depth at pitcher as five different players took the bump from the second to fifth inning, holding the Duhawks scoreless. 

In the bottom of the sixth, Ryan Simak started things for the Stars as he singled to center field. Nalbono was then hit by a pitch before a sacrifice bunt allowed Nalbono and Simak to advance to second and third respectively. Matthew Partridge then stepped up big as he hit a single to right-field allowing Simak and Nalbono to cross home plate to tie the game at two apiece. 

The seventh inning remained scoreless which forced extra innings. The Duhawks were able to bring three runners across home plate to put them ahead 5-2. The Stars tried responding in the bottom of the eighth but couldn't muster an answer as Loras closed out the 5-2 win. 

Nalbono led the Stars as he combined for three hits on the day while also scoring two runs. 

"I liked to see that we had some fight in the second game today but it just wasn't enough," said Head Coach Steve Hardman. "We are probably coming off the worst week and a half of baseball that this program has seen in a while and we need to turn it around." 

The Stars return to action Saturday, April 17th when they host Concordia University Chicago in a doubleheader matchup with the first pitch at 12:00 p.m.