DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque baseball team picked up two non-conference wins on Good Friday, sweeping the Westminster Blue Jays by scores of 1-0 and 5-1.

Game One
After UD starter Jordan Nelson escaped a bases loaded jam in the top of the first and UD used that momentum in the bottom half of the inning. After two singles and a walk, Hunter Martindale drew a bases loaded walk to bring home the first run of the game, however the Spartans would then leave the bases loaded themselves.

The pitching would settle in after a long first inning and the score would remain 1-0 despite both teams having multiple chances to change that as the Spartans would leave eight runners on and the Blue Jays with seven.

As like much of this season to date, things could not be simple for the Spartans in the ninth. The Spartans would turn a 5-4-3 double play after the leadoff hitter reached for the first two out. Westminster would not go quietly, following that up with a single and double to put runners on second and third. Derek Hardin would escape the jam with a swinging strikeout to close out the win in game one.

After a wild first inning, Jordan Nelson settled down on the mound. Going seven innings, scattering four hits, while fanning seven Blue Jays in the process of picking up his first win of the season. Derek Hardin closed things out for UD in the final two innings to earn his first save.

Jake Cekander reached base all four times in game one with a triple, single and two walks. Kyle Radi also picked up two knocks while scoring the lone run.

Game Two
The Spartans began game two like they did much of the first game, getting out of a jam and stranding three Blue Jays to avoid an early deficit.

UD got the scoring started in the third. Quincy Bryant delivered a one out double down the left field line and two batters later, Jake Cekander traded places with Bryant with a double down the line of his own to give UD there second 1-0 early lead of the day. Kellen Mitchell would continue the two-out rally with a seeing eye single through the right side to plate Cekander. The rally would tack on one more run in the frame thanks to a Blue Jay throwing error, allowing Cole DeStefanis to score and give UD a 3-0 lead through three.

The UD offense would continue their roll the following inning, picking up an RBI single from Kyle Radi and RBI walk from Mitchell to push the lead up to five runs and that would be enough offense to get the Spartans to their second win of the day.

For the second straight game the UD starting pitcher went 6+ innings with no runs. Shaun Logan took the mound in game two, throwing six scoreless, striking out four batters and allowing just three hits. Anthony Scanlon took over in the seventh and worked two scoreless frames leading into Edward Rosas who would work the ninth, giving up one run while securing the 5-1 win.

Kyle Radi and Cekander both led the Spartans again from the top of the order with two hits in both games. Kellen Mitchell joined them in game two with two hits, two RBI and a walk of a his own.

Up Next
The Spartans return to A-R-C play on Friday at Nebraska Wesleyan.