DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque softball team hosted the Buena Vista University Beavers and the two teams battled Mother Nature in an ice bowl in the softball doubleheader which showcased sleet, snow, and light rain. The Spartans were on the winning side as late game heroics handed UD the much needed sweep on Saturday, winning the opener 8-7 and the nightcap 6-5.

In game one, UD trailed 4-7 before a rally in the bottom of the sixth gave the Spartans the lead. The Spartans Bella Como grabbed a lead off single. Deanna Salerno popped up for the first out. Bella Allison  reached on a fielders choice as Come was out on the play. Kaitlyn Powell doubled down the right field line as Allison reached third base. Chloe Hild earned a walk to load the bases. UD would score a run on a wild pitch as runners advanced tho second and third. Dariann Diorio reached first base on an error by third base as both runners on base scored on the miscue to tie the game at 7-7. UD collected a walk to Madyson Dwight and Diorio advanced to second. Another walk would once again load the bases before pinch hitter Tricia Sporaa would be hit by the pitcher and advancing a run across the plate for the 8-7 lead. Como would fly out to center field to end the inning. BVU would but the tying run on first base with a walk. The Beavers sac bunted to advance their runner to second for their first out. BVU would pop up to the catcher for the second out and end the game on a fly out to second base.

Chloe Hild collected a two run homerun in the first inning as a deep shot over center field. Kaitlyn Powell went 2-4 at the plate and scored twice. UD scored eight runs off eight hits as the Beavers grabbed 12 hits and scored seven runs and committed a pair of errors.

Ally Gullette started on the mound and would go 4.1 innings with two strike outs and four earned runs before Paige Manning came in for relief and tossed 1.1 innings with one strike out and allowing no earned runs. Ciaran Rigby threw the final 1.1 innings and allowed just one walk to collect the win.

Late game heroics happened in the bottom of the seventh for the Spartans in the nightcap. The game was knotted at 3-3 through six innings before the Beavers grabbed the lead in the top of the seventh after scoring two runs off three hits and stranded a pair of runners. UD trailing 3-5 would open the bottom of the seventh inning on a ground out to shortstop. Deanna Salerno grabbed a walk. Bella Allison hit a deep ball to centerfield only to have the catch dropped and putting a pair of Spartans on base with one out. Kaitlyn Powell singled through the right side to load the bases. Chloe Hild struck out swinging for the second out. Dariann Diorio would double to deep center field and all three runs would score for the victory.

Diorio would end the game with six RBI's after going 2-4 at the plate. UD ended the game with six runs off five hits as BV would once again lead the game with 10 hits, but three costly errors would be their downfall. Jaelyn Blakemore earned the complete game win after facing 36 batters.

UD will travel to Pella, Iowa on Sunday, April 23 in a re-scheduled doubleheader from last week.