CARBONDALE, Ill. - The University of Dubuque Spartans baseball team opened their 2023 campaign with a pair of road victories for head coach Paul Wyczawski. The Spartans dominated the season opener 17-1 in seven innings over Blackburn College. UD improved to 2-0 after a 6-5 battle against Ripon College on Saturday afternoon.

UD scored 17 runs off 17 hits against Blackburn, left 10 runners on base, and committed a pair of errors. Nine Spartans finished with a hit and were led by Colton Pfeifer (RF) who ended the game with three hits in four at bats with two runs scored, two doubles, and an RBI. Cole DeStefanis (1B) went 3-5, scored two runs and grabbed one RBI after two doubles. Patrick Rafferty (3B) went 2-2 at the plate, scored a pair of runs and led both teams with a game high five RBI's after hitting two doubles. Jake Cekander (LF) walked twice added a pair of RBI's after one hit.

Edward Rosas started on the mound and tossed five scoreless innings, allowed just two hits and struck out five to collect the win. Anthony Scanlon came in for one inning of relief, allowed one hit and struck out two batters. Christian Battista threw the final inning and gave up a hit and run after facing five batters.

In game two, UD jumped out early for a 1-0 lead after two innings of play. Ripon got on the board with two runs in the top of the sixth and UD responded with a run in the bottom of the inning to knot the game 2-2. Both sides added a run in the seventh before UD put three runs on the scoreboard in the eight to extend the lead 6-3. Ripon battled back in the top of the ninth inning with a pair of runs before the Spartans shut them down to start their season 2-0.

UD scored six runs off 11 hits and committed one error. Ripon scored five runs off 12 hits and committed two errors. Aiden Sullivan started the game and threw five scoreless innings, waling two and fanning five batters. Derek Hardin collected the win after throwing three innings, allowing two earned runs with four strikeouts. Aidan Elfering collected the save with one inning of work in the ninth, allowing two earned runs and walking one batter.

Eight Spartans grabbed in a hit against Ripon. A trio of Spartans finished with two hits. Kyle Radi (C) went 2-5 at the plate with one RBI, Colin Husko (SS) went 2-4 and was stranded on base twice, and Colton Pfiefer (RF) went 2-3 with two RBI's, walked once and was left on base once. Cole DeStefanis , Colin Husko , Hunter Hicks all turned a defensive double play in the victory.

UD will be off until next weekend when they travel south and enjoy the warmth of Florida at the 2023 RussMatt Central Florida Invitational over spring break Feb. 26-March 4.