Rock Island, Ill. - The University of Dubuque Spartans softball team traveled to the campus of the Augustana Vikings for a pair of non-conference games. The Spartans walked a way with a split as they lost the first game 3-2 in extra innings but bounced back taking the second game 4-3 in extras. 

In game one, Paige Manning got the nod for the Spartans on the mound. Manning kept the Vikings bat's at bay as she only allowed three hits through the first five innings. Neither team was able to crack through the scoreboard until the top of the fifth. Leading off, Chloe Hild recorded the first hit for the Spartans as she doubled into right field. Two batters latter, Cayla Cavanagh smacked a homerun over the left field fence giving the Spartans a 2-0 lead. With Cavanagh's third homerun of the year, she has now become the University of Dubuque's All-time homerun leader with 14 in her career. Augustana mounted a comeback as they rattled off seven hits in the next two innings plating one run in the sixth and one in the seventh to tie the game at 2-2, forcing extra innings. Heading into extras each team starts with a runner at second base with no outs. The Spartans were unable to manufacture a hit leaving the runner stranded while the Vikings won on a sacrifice fly 3-2 in the bottom of the eighth. 

Paige Manning pitched seven innings, giving up two runs on ten hits while striking out four. Jaelyn Blakemore came in relief in the eighth inning. Blakemore earned the loss although she did not surrender a hit. The Spartans were out hit by the Vikings 10-3 in game one.

Entering into the evening slate, the Spartans took the lead first in the early innings of play. Chloe Hild tacked on another hit in the second as she sent a deep fly ball into left center for her second homerun of the year. The Spartans had another scoring opportunity in the top of the third with the basesload but were unable to capitalize. After Augustana tied it up in the fourth, the Spartans responded with a run of their own in the fifth. Following a single by Dariann Diorio, Kaitlyn Powell ripped an RBI triple down the right field line giving the Spartans a 2-1 lead. Once again in the bottom half of the inning, Augustana answered back knotting the game at 2-2. Augustana had their chance at another walk-off victory in the seventh, but Ally Gullette worked around two singles to get out of the inning. In the top of the eighth, the Spartans were able to plate two runs off one hit and a pair of errors by the Vikings taking a 4-2 lead. Augustana did not go down quietly as they scored one in the eighth had the tying run on third along with the game winning run on second with two outs. Down to the final out, Gullette forced a ground out securing the victory as the Spartans won 4-3.

Freshman, Ciaran Rigby started the game as she went five innings allowing one earned run off five hits while striking out five. Ally Gullette tossed the last three innings surrendering only one run on four hits to earn the win. Powell led the charge for the Spartans as she had three out of the team's eight hits. The Spartans also recorded five singles each by a different player. 

The Spartans are now 9-19 overall and 2-4 in conference play.

Up Next
The Spartans will hit the road once again as they face-off against conference opponent, #21 Central Dutch. The doubleheader is scheduled to start on Saturday, April 15, at 1:00 p.m.