DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque baseball team ended their three-game skid by defeating Nebraska Wesleyan University in the series opener 10-0.
Johnny Blake had another stellar outing on the mound striking out 13 batters on his way to the win.
Daniel Maller hit two home runs in the game including a solo shot to end the game in the eighth inning.
The Spartans left players on base in the first two innings, but were able to get on the board in the second inning with
JD Schaffer hitting a RBI single up the middle. Maller hit his first home run in the third inning to left field as the wind was strongly blowing out and the ball carried over the fence, giving the Spartans a 3-0 lead. In the fourth inning, the Spartans would blow the game open scoring five runs with two runs scored because of NWU errors. After the conclusion of the fourth, the Spartans led 8-0.
Fast forward to the seventh inning,
Jake Cekander singled up the middle to score a run and the Spartans had a runner on third and could end the game after seven, but the Spartans were not able to get the runner in. That would change in the eighth inning as Maller's swing looked quite similar to his third inning swing as he hit another home run over the left field fence to end the game and give the Spartans the shutout victory.
Blake went 7.0 innings on the mound and struck out 13 of the 28 batters he faced today. In all six wins for Blake this season, he has managed double-digit strikeouts. This is his second straight game with 13 strikeouts and three of his last four starts have been top five single game records in school history for strikeouts including the school record 17 strikeouts he had against Simpson earlier this month.
Colin Husko was a perfect 3-3 at the plate including a hit by pitch and a walk. Cekander also had a multiple hit game with two hits.
The Spartans move to 20-13 overall and 9-9 in the A-R-C.
Up Next
The Spartans will finish the series with NWU tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at 12:00 p.m. Tomorrow will be senior day for the Spartans and they will be honored in between games.
