DECORAH, Iowa - Entering the final week of the regular season, the University of Dubuque Spartans baseball team started off on a high note securing a road victory 2-1 over the Norse of Luther College.

The Spartans awaited a long time for the third game of the series against the Norse. Both teams matched up back on March 23rd where the Spartans won both games by scores of 11-0 and 7-4. Due to weather conditions game three was postponed for a later date.

In the opening inning, the Spartans cracked through the scoreboard with a run off two hits. Jake Cekander lined an RBI single into left field scoring Colin Husko who also singled in his first at bat. In the bottom half of the inning, the Norse answered with a run of their own to even the game at 1-1. After a combined scoreless stretch of five innings, the Spartans broke the tie in the seventh. Husko stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and reached on a fielder's choice driving in JD Schaffer for the game winning run. The Spartans offense tallied seven hits led by Kyle Radi who was 2-3 from the plate with a double. 

Dubuque native, Johnny Blake took the mound for the Spartans and tossed his third complete game of the season. In the bottom of the ninth, the Norse were threatening with runners on first and second but the Spartans turned a double play to end the game. Blake earned his seventh win of the season striking out six of the 33 batters faced. 

With the win the Spartans have solidified a spot in the American Rivers Conference Tournament which will take place on May 9-11 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Up Next
The Spartans will close out the regular season on the road against the Buena Vista University Beavers. The first game of the series is scheduled to start on Thursday, May 2 at 6:00 p.m.