DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque Spartans played their final home game of the season at Dan W. Runkle Field on Tuesday afternoon as they welcomed in the visiting Vikings of North Park. Last week the Spartans made the trip down to North Park for a single game in which the Spartans captured the road win 8-6. This time at home, the result was the same as the Spartans swept the season series with an 11-3 victory.

The Spartans got the bats going early on as they plated four runs in the first inning. Cole DeStefanis got the scoring started with an RBI sacrifice fly, followed by a single up the middle from Kyle Radi to bring home Jake Cekander. After a single from Hunter Hicks, next up Colton Pfeifer brought in two mores runs with a double taking a 4-0 lead. The Spartans tacked on two more runs in the fourth due to a costly error by the Vikings. In the Spartans next at bats, Hicks delivered his second hit of the day with an RBI triple to left center and later scored off an RBI single from Pfeifer to extend the lead to 8-0. North Park got on the scoreboard in the sixth by platting three runs to cut into the deficit.

The Spartans added three more insurance runs with one in the sixth and two in the eighth. DeStefanis added two more RBIs to his day with a double and a single. In the eighth, Daniel Maller launched his first career homerun as he lined the ball over the right field fence for a solo shot as the Spartans went on to win 11-3.

Offensively, the Spartans totaled 12 hits in which four players recorded multiple hits. Colton Pfeifer led the charge with three hits and three RBIs while Colin Husko, DesStefanis, and Hicks each had two hits. 

Patrick Rafferty got the nod on the mound today and earned his third win of the year. Rafferty tossed six innings, struck out five, and only allowed three runs. Anthony Scanlon came in relief and pitched 2 1/3 innings. Scanlon made quick work striking out three and only gave up two hits. In the ninth, Derek Hardin entered the game and recorded two ground outs and a flyout to end the game. 

Up Next
The Spartans will finish the season on the road with a three game series at Simpson. The Spartans will play a doubleheader on Friday, May 5 with the first pitch starting at 3:30 p.m.