Duhawks go 3-1 to open 2008 season
Jon Denham, Sports Information Director
March 5, 2008

The Loras College baseball team opened the 2008 campaign on Sunday with a doubleheader split with Macalester and followed with a doubleheader sweep of Hamline on Monday. Loras dropped the first game to Macalester before winning their final three games of the two-day trip.

In the season opening loss to Macalester, the Duhawks were credited with just two hits in support of Loras opening day starter, senior Matt Barilla. Junior shortstop Nick Olberding and sophomore third baseman Ben Kuebel earned the their way on base with the two hits. The Duhawks also drew four walks and Olberding scored the team's first run of 2008.

Game two against Macalester was the first win of the season, 5-3, with freshman Kevin Moriarty (Evergreen, IL)  earning the win on the hill. Moriarty threw four innings of six-hit ball, giving up three earned runs and striking out two. Offensively, catcher John Schroeder turned in the only multi-hit game of the day for Loras. Brock Schneden cleared the Metrodome fence with the first homerun of the season for Loras in the first inning. Brad Joneic threw an impressive three innings of relief to help seal the win for the Duhawks, earning the first save of the season. Joniec gave up just one hit in his three innings of work to start the season.

Monday evening's tilt with Hamline turned into a slugfest early for the Duhawks, who scored five runs in each of the first two innings against Hamline's starter, who only managed one inning of work. The second inning pitcher did just the same, with one inning of work and five runs conceded. Things settled down for the third inning before the Duhawks tallied another five runs in the fourth. Adam Gross exploded for three hits and three RBI. John Schroeder and Ben Kuebel also had three-hit performances in game one. Junior lefty Bryan Geertgens earned the first victory of his Loras career, pitching five innings, giving up six hits and four earned runs, striking out three and walking three. Loras was 16-39 from the plate.

The hit parade continued in game two, and it started with Adam Gross who singled to start the bottom of the first. Nick Olberding drove in Gross for the game's first run. Loras would add three more first inning runs, one more in the third, and another five-spot in the fourth and go on to win the game 10-3. Gross had four hits on the day. Brock Schneden and John Schroeder each drove in two runs. Tim Carty was credited with his first win of the season. Brad Joniec continued his strong start from the bullpen in 2008, throwing 3.1 innings of one-hit baseball.

Macalester and Hamline combined for 14 errors, while Loras tallied just five. Nick Olberding has hit safely in each of the first four games and has a 12 game hitting streak dating back to last year.

The Duhawks will be in Port Charlotte, Florida March 14-21 for 10 games beginning March 15th when they take on Heidelberg in a doubleheader. Continue to check the Loras College website for the information regarding the broadcast of select games during the trip.

Listen to Head Coach Carl Tebon discuss the first four games of the season and more by clicking HERE