DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque softball team traveled across town on Wednesday to face the Loras College Duhawks in the annual NFCA Strikeout for Cancer doubleheader. The Spartans rallied back in the opener, but fell short 2-3. The Duhawks captured the sweep with a final 4-8 in the second game.

UD fell to seventh place in the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) standings and are battling for the sixth and last qualifying spot in the 2023 A-R-C tournament next week. The Spartans scored two runs off six hits, but four costly errors once again plagued the scorebook. Jaelyn Blakemore suffered the loss after pitching a complete six inning contest and allowing one earned run. She faced 26 batters and walked just one.

UD's offense was led by Kaitlyn Powell who went 2-3 at the plate with a double and Bella Allison who finished 2-4 with an RBI and a stolen base. Dariann Diorio hit a ball deep in the top of the sixth for the solo homer and an RBI. In the second game, UD fell behind 0-5 through five innings before scoring a run in the sixth off a solo homerun by Deanna Salerno. UD scored three more runs at the top of the seventh and after Cayla Cavanagh hit a two RBI homerun to left center. Chloe Hild had a double to lead off the seventh. The Spartans ended with four runs off seven hits and committed two errors and left four runners on base. The Duhawks grabbed eight hits off 14 hits and played errorless while stranding eight batters on base. Ally Gullette took the loss after allowing three earned runs. Ciaran Rigby tossed one inning, struck out one, and allowed two earned runs.

The Spartans busy week continues when they travel north to face the UW-Stevens Point Pointers on a make-up doubleheader on Thursday, May 4 at 3:00 p.m. UD will host Senior Day on Saturday, May 6 against the Simpson College Storm beginning at 1:00 p.m.

A-R-C Standings

C - A-R-C Champion
T - A-R-C Tournament Champion
(#) - A-R-C Tournament Seed
Q - Qualified for A-R-C Tournament
No. - NFCA Top 25 Poll