AUBURNDALE, Fla. - Winning ways continue in Florida for the University of Dubuque baseball team as they earned their eighth straight win defeating Penn State Abington 9-4 on Friday afternoon behind 4 RBI's from Hunter Hicks which included an eighth inning three-run homerun. 

The Spartans would bat through the entire lineup in the bottom of the first inning scoring six runs on only three hits. The inning also included back-to-back walks to open the half inning with three total. Penn State Abington got on the board in the top of the second inning. The game would switch to a pitching duel through the next 4.5 innings until Penn State Abington would cut the Spartans lead to 6-3 in the top of the seventh. The Spartans would be able to build their lead back in their final plate appearances of the game as Parker Allen was hit by a pitch, Jake Cekander walked which would allow Hicks to hit a three-run homerun over the fence to give the Spartans their biggest lead since scoring six to open the game. Penn State Abington was able to get a run in the top of the ninth, but the substantial lead by the Spartans was too much to overcome. 

With the eighth inning homerun, Hicks had four of the six RBI's for the Spartans . Along with Hicks, Colin Husko and Patrick Rafferty each had two hits this afternoon. Aiden Sullivan picked up his second win on the mound after a 6.2 inning performance giving up one earned run on five hits and three walks. Sullivan was able to strike out 10 of the 29 batters he faced. Derek Hardin finished the final 2.1 innings to secure the win. 

Up Next
The Spartans will conclude their spring break schedule as they play Concordia University Chicago at 10:30 a.m. (ET) / 9:30 a.m. (CT) tomorrow before heading back to Iowa.