Loras Softball Earns First Ever NCAA Tournament Appearance

The Loras College softball team made history this week. They are now the first in the school's history to hear their name called in the NCAA Selection Show.

On May 14th at 1:30pm (EST), the Duhawks will be taking on No. 24-ranked University of Rochester (NY) at Trine University as part of the Angola Regional. It marks the first time the Duhawks softball team has ever been a part of the tournament.

The Loras College Duhawks Softball Team is in the Middle of a Tremendous Year:

The Duhawks ended the regular season with a 29-14 record, including an 8-2 record during the Spring Games in Florida. Other marquee wins include a senior day sweep over then No. 23-ranked Central College, and a conference semifinal win over No. 23-ranked and top seeded Wartburg College to advance to the program's first American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Championship game, per Loras College Athletics' website.

Head coach Ashley Winter's tenure with the Duhawks began in 2010. This is the most wins in a single season for Winter, and it's to her credit and that of her players that they were able to reach this incredible milestone.

Some Individual Stats for the Loras College Duhawks Softball Team:

It takes a plethora of contributors to make Loras' softball team's first NCAA Tournament bid possible. Loras College Athletics' website broke down some significant player achievements during the season:

Sophomore Dana Skorich leads the Duhawks at the plate, batting .393 with 13 doubles, a home run, 13 runs scored and 30 RBIs.
Kiya Steger finished the year with a .373 batting average that includes 10 home runs, a new single season record, and 49 RBIs, which will also be a new single season record at the end of the season.
Ellie Baker ranks second on the team in batting average as a freshman
Ava Franklin has a .331 batting average.
Katherine Svigelj owns the lead-off spot for the Duhawks.
Sophomore Kaili Henning serves as Loras' ace with a 13-6 record and 1.95 ERA over 129.1 innings pitched.

Overall, the Duhawks are batting .320 while in the circle.

Information About the Duhawks' matchup against the University of Rochester:

The University of Rochester comes into their game against Loras with a 35-8 record, and earned the Liberty League's automatic bid following an 8-5 win over Ithaca College in the championship game, per Loras College Athletics' website.

Meanwhile, the host school, Trine University, earned their way into the tournament by winning the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) conference tournament. Trine boasts a 32-4 record and finished MIAA play with a 14-2 record.

Find out more about the Loras College softball team's historic tournament bid on the school's Athletics website.