WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The University of Dubuque softball team competed on their final day of their Spring break trip with victories over the University of Northwestern (13-6) and Concordia College -Minnesota (14-0, 5 innings) to make it four straight to end the trip.
Game 1 – University of Northwestern (MN)
The Spartans had their best offensive performance of the Spring break trip against the Eagles of the University of Northwestern tallying 17 hits out of 38 batters that stepped up to the plate on Friday morning. The Spartans would trail right away 0-1 before
Dariann Diorio hit a two-run shot over the center field fence to give the Spartans their first lead of the game at 2-1. This was Diorio's third homerun of the season and all of them coming down in Florida. The Spartans would relinquish the lead as the Eagles totaled four runs through the second and third innings to regain the lead at 5-2.
The Spartans found themselves trailing 4-6 heading to the bottom of the fourth inning before the Spartans would score three in the inning including a two-run homerun to deep left field to get the lead back from
Cayla Cavanagh, her first of the season. The Spartans would go on to score six more runs over the course of the final two innings to win by a comfortable margin of 13-6.
Cavanagh had a perfect day at the plate going 4-4 with two runs batted in off the homerun. Diorio led the Spartans with three RBI's after her 2-4 day at the plate and
Bella Allison went 3-4 with three singles.
Jaelyn Blakemore got the start on the mound and went 2.1 innings.
Ally Gullette finished the final 4.2 innings not allowing an earned run and striking out three.
Game 2 – Concordia College (MN)
The Spartans would face the Concordia College Cobbers for a second time this season after falling in Minnesota by a final score of 0-1. This time around the Spartans would defeat the Cobbers in five innings thanks to an 18-hit game that produced 14 runs. The Spartans would take the lead in the opening inning and never look back, scoring three in the first, five in the second, and six over the final three innings.
Deanna Salerno,
Megan Leick, and
Tricia Sporaa led the Spartans in game two with three hits apiece. Diorio was able to bring in four runs off one hit in four plate appearances.
Paige Manning brought her record back to .500 (3-3) with a five inning shutout and only allowing two hits while striking out seven.
Up Next
The Spartans will take a break for a while after having played 10 games in six days as they head back to Iowa and will host Cornell College on Saturday, March 25 for a double header beginning at 1:00 p.m. on the UD Softball Field.
