Two years ago, Loras College swept a four-game series in Dubuque over Simpson College, winning two on walk-off wins.

Simpson avoided the sweep this past weekend at Petrakis Field in Dubuque, but lost three of four to the Duhawks to open IIAC play.

Results:

Fri, Mar. 20:

GM 1: L, 4-3

Simpson lead for much of game one until Tony Heiser hit a two-run homer off the top of the fence to tie the game 3-3 in the fifth. A double off the bat of Anthony Flattery that got caught in the sun set up a walk-off RBI single from Heiser in the bottom of the ninth.

Matt Pennings (0-3) suffered the loss, allowing 4 ER in 6 2/3 innings, striking out five.

Gage Reis went 4-4 in the series opener, although he went 0-9 in the final three games.

GM 2: L, 9-2

Loras put together a five-run fifth inning running away with game two, 9-2. Jake Scieszinski (2-1) suffered his first loss of the season, allowing 7 ER in 4 2/3 innings.

Simpson struck out 11 times, generating only four hits, two off the bat of Austin Burlin who finished 2-3 in game two, and 8-14 for the weekend.

Burlin currently ranks third in the conference in batting average at .486.

Fri, Mar. 21:

GM: 1: W, 7-6

Simpson jumped out to a 3-1 lead, adding three more in the seventh to hold off a three-run Loras rally in the seventh.

Gage Reis (1-1) earned the win, allowing 4 ER in 6 2/3. Brock Borgeson earned the one out save to close the game, forcing a groundout with the bases loaded in the seventh.

Six players knocked in runs, two off of the bat of Jonathan Greiner.

GM 2: L, 12-6

Simpson’s projected starter, Zeb Noel, injured his right knee sliding into second base in game one giving Borgeson his first career start in game two.

The Storm (3-9, 1-3) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first but Loras chipped away, tacking on five in the third inning on their way to a 12-6 win.

Borgeson (0-1) lasted only 2 1/3, giving up 6 ER for the loss.

Scieszinski drove in two, going 3-5 in the loss. Burlin scored three times on a 4-5 performance at the dish.

Up Next:

Simpson plays a mid-week matinee with Grinnell College at 1 p.m. on Thursday before their IIAC home opener with Luther College on Friday, Mar. 27.