DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque and Loras College baseball teams would play a fast-paced doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon with the Duhawks snagging game one 5-1 before the Spartans rebounded for a 4-1 win in game two.
Game One
For the second time in as many games in the series, the Spartans would plate a first inning run for the quick 1-0 lead. This time, it was by way of a
Jordan Goldstein RBI single to right center to bring home
Kyle Radi who led off the frame with a single. The Duhawks would answer with two hits of their own in the top of the second with a UD error allowing two unearned runs to score to put Loras ahead 2-1, a lead they would not relinquish.
After the two first inning hits the UD offense would go quiet, seeing just two more runners reach base over the final six innings, both by way of a walk. The Duhawks would add one run in each the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to take game one of the doubleheader, 5-1.
In his final career home start, Jordan Nelson threw a complete game, striking out nine Duhawks with just three of his five runs being earned. Kyle Radi and PAtrick Rafferty were the only two Spartans to reach base more than once, Radi doing so with a hit and base on balls and Rafferty walking twice.
Game Two
The two starting pitchers cruised early, but it was the Spartans offense that cracked the opposing pitcher first. In the bottom of the second,
Kellen Mitchell and
Jordan Goldstein went single and double to lead off the inning to get two runners in scoring position with no outs. With the defense playing back, all UD had to do was put the ball on the ground in play and
Max Snowden did just that, grounding out to drive home Mitchell and the Spartans would lead 1-0 through two. In the top of the third inning, Loras would come up with a hustle play to tie the game at one. On a driving attempt by UD's second baseman
Cole DeStefanis, the ball would squirt just far enough away from him to allow Loras' runner on second to never break stride and score.
In the fifth inning, it was once again the first two batters reaching base, this time it was Max Snowden and Colton Pfeifer sparking a rally with singles. Quincy Bryant would execute a sacrifice bunt, leading to a Kyle Radi single up the middle, scoring both Snowden and Pfeifer regaining the lead for the Spartans. UD would tack on an insurance run in the sixth inning but it woud not matter as Loras would not threaten in the seventh and UD would get the doubleheader split with a 4-1 win in game two.
Aiden Sullivan continues to have an impressive freshman season and is now 2-0 as a starter. Sullivan would throw all seven innings, inducing weak contact as he would only strike out three Duhawks but only gave up four hits and one run.
Jordan Goldstein would come up with two doubles on his way to a 3-3 game. Kellen Mitchell bounced back from an 0-3 game in game one with a 2-3 performance in game two with one double and two runs scored. Max Snowden would also have a two-hit game, adding a double and run scored
The split on Wednesday should secure a spot in the 4 vs 5 match-up in next week's American Rivers Conference Tournament. Pairings will become official Saturday after the final regular season games have been played
UD and Loras conclude their four game set tomorrow at 4 p.m.
