CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The University of Dubuque baseball team fought off elimination on Thursday night, using an 11-run fifth inning to roll past the Central Dutch. 

With the Spartan outfielders still adjusting to taking hops off the outfield turf, a Central RBI triple bounced its way over the UD outfield and all the way to the fence to give the Dutch a 1-0 lead in the second. The Spartans would get the game back to even in the bottom of the fourth with a Quincy Bryant sacrifice fly to deep left center. 

In the bottom of the fifth, with a chirping Central dugout, Kellen Mitchell drilled a a no-doubt, two-run, home run to right field to give UD their first lead of the game. The Mitchell home run was only the beginning for the Spartans in the fifth, as UD would send 15 batters to the plate on their way to blowing opening the game with an 11-run frame. 

Fifth-year senior Jordan Nelson got the start for the Spartans on the mound and came up two outs shy in what could be the final appearance of his career. Nelson went 6.1 innings with five strikeouts and two earned runs. 

The UD offense racked up 13 hits and drew eight walks on their way to the 14-run explosion and forcing the Dutch to use six pitchers.

The Spartans survive and move on to face the loser of Coe-Buena Vista at 12 p.m. on Friday.