DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque baseball team began a pivotal four game season with the Buena Vista Beavers on Friday, with Buena Vista grabbing the first two contest. The Spartans would drop game one in 10 innings 10-7 and and surrender two late runs in game two to fall 4-3.

Game One
The Spartans came out swinging and jumped on the Beavers early beginning with a Cole DeStefanis double to left center. Patrick Rafferty followed with an RBI triple and Zach McCoy delivered an RBI single to give UD a 3-0 lead after the first inning. The Beavers would punch back and in a big way, putting a six spot on the board in the top of the second and adding another in the fifth to put the Beavers ahead 7-3.

UD cut the lead in half in the fifth with two runs to get themselves within striking distance heading into their final at bat down two in the seventh. With the bases loaded and UD down to their last out, Rafferty punched a ball down the left field line, bringing the tying run home and giving the Spartans new life. That final clutch hit evaded the Spartans, leaving the winning runs on base in both the seventh and eighth innings before Buena Vista scored three runs in the 10th to take game one 10-7.

Kyle Radi and DeStefanis would both collect three hits in game one, while Rafferty drove in a team-high three runs. Ben Kettering pitched two clean innings in relief before surrendering three runs in the 10th to take his first loss of the season.

Game Two
Just like game one, it was the Spartans striking first in the bottom of the first and the Beavers taking the lead in the top of the second.

UD used a two-out rally in the bottom of the third to retake the lead. It began with a laser of a home run off the bat of Kellen Mitchell, his fifth homer of the season to bring the score back to even at 2-2. The Spartans would then force the issue after a Rafferty walk and Jordan Goldstein single. Goldstein would shortly after steal second base and in the process the Beaver pitcher would balk to allow Rafferty to walk home for the unconventional run and a 3-2 lead.

After five strong innings on the mound, UD starter Jordan Nelson's command got away from him a bit and the Beavers took advantage with a double and single to tie the game and chase Nelson with no outs in the sixth. Derek Hardin would come in relief and get the first two batters but this time it was the Beavers coming up with a two out knock to take the lead through five and a half innings. 

Still trailing by one in the sixth the Spartans would threaten, getting two runners on with one out but just like game one, UD could not manage that break through hit and it was the last time the Spartans would threaten in the game to fall 4-3.

In the loss, the Spartans did not go down without opportunities, as they stranded 11 runners on base. Jake Cekander led the offense, going 3-4, giving him five hits in the doubleheader and three runs scored.

Up Next
The Spartans and Beavers will take Saturday off for graduation before resuming the series on Sunday with game one of the doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.