DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque baseball team delayed action for two days, but took the field on Monday to host Marian University in a doubleheader on Dan W. Runkle Field in a postponed match-up from Friday, March 17. UD jumped out early and put runs on the board and would finish the opener scoring seven runs off 12 hits to capture game one by a 7-1 margin. In the second game, UD fell behind early, but rallied for a 7-6 win. The Spartans scored seven runs off nine hits and committed two errors.
The pitching staff held Marian scoreless through eight innings in game one before allowing one earned run in the top of the ninth.
Aiden Sullivan started and threw two complete scoreless innings, allowed one hot and struck out one.
Aidan Elfering earned the victory after he threw the next four innings and gave up just three hits and struck out three batters.
Anthony Scanlon tossed the final three innings and allowed just two hits and one earned run with three strike outs. The trio faced 34 batters en route to the victory.
Colin Husko sent the ball down the left line with two runners on base and it rolled all the way to the corner and he scampered past every base for the inside the park home run in the fourth inning and earned three RBI's. He finished the afternoon 3-5 at the plate.
Brandon Watkins went 3-3 with one run scored.
In the second game of the day, Marian came out swinging and led 4-0 before the Spartans rallied in the bottom of the third to take their first lead 6-4. Marian sliced into the Spartan lead in the top of the fifth by adding a run. UD added a run in the bottom of the seventh, but Marian once again sliced into the lead with a run in the top of the eighth. A leadoff walk in the top of the ninth kept the game interesting. The runner advanced to second on a infield ground out. The pitching held the tying run at second after a strike out looking and a fly out would end the contest in favor of the Spartans.
Jake Cekander earned the win on the mound after 2.1 innings with one earned run in three hits.
Edward Rosas started and went 2.2 innings with four strikeouts before getting a relief after allowing three earned runs and seven hits.
Patrick Rafferty went two innings, walked two and struck out one.
Derek Hardin added another save to his season stats after pitching the final two innings allowing no earned runs with one hit and a strikeout.
Three Spartans collected two hits each in the win. Leadoff
Parker Allen was 2-3 with a run scored,
Kyle Radi went 2-4 with two RBI's and two runs scored, and
Brandon Watkins finished 2-4.
Cole DeStefanis led game two with three RBI's after a homerun in the third inning with two runners on base.
The Spartans (10-1) prepare to host their American Rivers Conference opener on Friday and Saturday against the Buena Vista University Beavers who enter the week with a 9-4 overall mark. The Beavers are returning from Spring Break in Auburndale, Fla. where they finished 4-3.
