DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque opened American Rivers Conference play on Friday afternoon and would lose both games in the doubleheader. UD lost 5-11 in the opener and lost a back and forth match in the nightcap 5-6.
UD jumped out to a quick lead 2-0 through two innings before a pair of costly errors and a passed ball allowed Buena Vista University to put six runs across the plate at the top of the third inning. UD would be forced to play catch up the final six innings.
Colin Husko led UD with three hits in the loss and added an RBI. Leadoff
Parker Allen went 2-5 at the plate with a pair of RBI's.
Parker Allen,
Jake Cekander, and
Patrick Rafferty all collected a double. Eight Spartans finished with a hit as UD scored five runs off 11 hits and left nine runners on base. BV scored 11 runs off 16 hits.
Aiden Sullivan suffered the loss after tossing four innings and allowing eight hits and five earned runs with a strike out.
Austin Franzen came in for relief and threw three innings, allowed five hits and two earned runs.
Jet Crews pitched the final two innings and allowed three hits and two earned runs.
In game two, both teams pitching kept the offense shut down through three innings. The Beavers were the first to score with a run in the top of the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings before the Spartans sliced into their 3-0 lead with a run in the bottom of the sixth, BVU gained back the run in the top of the seventh to lead 4-1. UD would capture their first lead of the game in the bottom of the eighth after adding four runs off three hits and a BV error.
Bases were loaded when a wild pitch sent Colton Pfiefer home on the miscue only to have the ball ricochet off the brick behind home plate and back to the catcher for a tag out at home leaving two runners on base. UD led 5-4 heading to the top of the ninth. BV opened with a ground out. Their next batter got on by an error by third base. A fielder's choice allowed UD to throw out the runner at second base. A single put BV runners on first and second. The next at bat was a single through the left side allowed the runner to score to tie before a misplayed ball by left field allowed the game winning run home. A final fly out ended the inning with BV leading 6-5. UD opened the bottom of the ninth with a strike out looking before a single by
Matt Wolverton gave UD life. UD struck out for their second out and fouled out for the final game ending out and a one run loss.
Colin Husko went 3-5 at the plate.
Jake Cekander was 2-3 and scored a run.
Bo Karlson finished 2-4 with an RBI.
Colton Pfeifer was 1-4, but claimed three RBI's.
Derek Hardin took the loss after allowing no earned runs with two runs scored in the final inning.
The Spartans (10-3 overall, 0-2 in the A-R-C) will continue the series versus BVU (11-4 overall, 0-2 in A-R-C) on Sunday, March 26 at 2 p.m. on Dan W. Runkle Field in Dubuque, Iowa.
