A big inning late in each game cost St. Ambrose as the Bees dropped a non-conference doubleheader to Loras by scores of 7-5 and 7-3 Thursday afternoon at the St. Vincent Athletic Complex.

The opener saw the Duhawks score three times in the top of the sixth after the Bees had built a 5-4 lead. Then in the nightcap, Loras pushed across four runs in the top of the seventh to break a 3-3 tie.

Game 1 went back and forth. Kayla Stenger staked St. Ambrose (17-15) to a quick lead, singling in Alyssa Schumacher then scoring on a passed ball in the bottom of the first. Loras (10-9) got a run back in the top of the second but SAU answered in the bottom half when Erica Ralfs was walked with the bases loaded to bring in Paige Kirkman.

The Duhawks scored a run in the third then took a 4-3 lead with a two-run fourth. Schumacher had an RBI ground out in the fourth and an inning later, Eryn Cornwell's ground out scored Allison Polly to put the Bees back in front 5-4. But that lead was short lived. Loras got a bases-loaded triple to score three. SAU left a runner on in the sixth and two more on in the seventh.

Kirkman (3-for-4) and Shai Erdrich (2-for-4) accounted for half of the team's 10 hits. Ralfs, Stenger, Polly, Maria Provenzano and Cassie Sprout had the other Bee hits.

Kayla Roemer was charged with the loss after pitching 2 2/3 innings in relief. Ralfs surrendered just one earned run over the first three innings. Annebelle Krull allowed one earned run in her 1 1/3 innings before giving way to Roemer.

St. Ambrose also built an early lead in the second game. Ralfs lifted a sacrifice fly to right and Kirkman laid down a squeeze bunt to give the Bees a 2-0 lead in the first. Stenger upped the lead to 3-0 when she scored as Sprout's bunt was misplayed in the second.

Loras got on the board in the fourth and tied the game with a pair of runs in the fifth. SAU had a golden opportunity in the sixth. Brooke Baker drew a walk and Reagan Engberg follwed with a base hit. A Polly sacrifice moved both runners into scoring position with just one out. But Stenger and Mackenzie Stiewe came up empty setting the stage for the Duhawks' four-run seventh.

Engberg was 3-for-3 while Baker finished 2-for-2 in the loss.

Emilee Erickson took the loss despite striking out eight over 6 2/3 innings. Cornwell recorded the final out.

The Bees will return to CCAC play next week with a doubleheader at Olivet Nazarene Tuesday.