PELLA —  Five home runs by Loras College spelled doom for the Central College baseball team in a 13-7 loss Friday to open the American Rivers Conference season.

The Duhawks used the five home runs, including a grand slam and a three-run shot, to win the first of three games this weekend against the Dutch.

Right fielder Jaden Kramer (senior, Cedar Falls) had a two-run home run of his own for Central in the bottom of the fourth. Center fielder Max Steinlage (senior, Cedar Falls) also had a two-run home run in the ninth. Steinlage also had an RBI sacrifice fly in the seventh.

Kramer and catcher Dom DeLaPaz (fifth year, Davenport, West HS) each scored two runs. Third baseman Brayden Sawyer (senior, Grundy Center) had two hits.

Starting pitcher Mark Kenney (senior, Fennimore, Wis.) struck out five Duhawk batters but allowed five runs in 4.1 innings of work. Four of the runs scored via two home runs. Four Central relievers combined to finish the game, highlighted by a scoreless ninth inning from Bo Gerbracht (junior, Wellsburg, AGWSR HS).

The two teams complete their series with a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m.