DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque baseball team ended their home conference season with a series victory over the Wartburg College Knights by getting two wins on Sunday. The Spartans jumped out to a quick lead in game one and won by a final score of 7-4. In game two it was all Spartans as they poured on 15 runs to win via the run rule in seven innings by a final of 15-3.
Game 1
The Spartans would open up big in the first inning with four runs in the first inning.
Brandon Watkins would score three runs on a bases clearing triple to right center to lead 3-0.
Daniel Maller hit into a fielder's choice to score Watkins from third giving them a 4-0 lead. The Spartans found two more runs in the fourth inning to lead by as many as six runs. Wartburg got in the scoring column in the fifth with two runs and would add another two in the seventh, but the Spartans were able to get the final six outs over the next two innings to win the first game of two on Sunday 7-4.
The Spartans won game one despite only four hits with half of them coming from Watkins. Seven walks and four hit by pitches by the Knights helped the Spartans produce seven runs in the game.
Aiden Sullivan pitched seven full innings giving up four runs on eight hits while striking out eight batters for his fifth victory of the season.
Game 2
Game two would be an offensive explosion from the Spartans as the game was shortened as the Spartans were able to 10-run rule the Knights 15-3. Wartburg was the first on the board by the second batter hitting a homerun over the left field fence. The Spartans would quickly turn the one run deficit into a one run lead knocking in two in the bottom of the first to lead 2-1. The third inning would be where the Spartans would open the game up scoring five runs to lead 7-1 and in command of the final game of the series. The Spartans produced another eight runs over three innings which was highlighted by a
Hunter Hicks homerun in the bottom of the fifth inning and Watkins following up the long ball with a bases clearing double similar to what he did in game one.
Cole DeStefanis batted third in the Spartans lineup and didn't record an official at-bat as he forced five walks. DeStefanis saw 12 straight pitches outside the strike zone and didn't see a strike until his fourth time to the plate. Watkins continued his great Sunday with another six RBI's for a total of nine on the day.
Jake Cekander went 3-4 at the plate and accounted for four runs.
Hunter Hicks also went 3-4 at the plate including two RBI's.
Edward Rosas pitched the entire seven innings allowing three runs on eight hits for his third win of the season.
The Spartans now sit at 21-10 overall and 11-9 in American Rivers Conference play. The Spartans sit fourth in the conference standings with three conference games to go against Simpson College.
Up Next
The Spartans will move to non-conference for a bit as they travel to North Park University on Thursday, April 27 at 3:00 p.m. at the Homerglen Athletic Complex.
