DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque Spartans hosted the Storm of Simpson College for the start of a three game series at Dan W. Runkle Baseball Field. Fans in attendance, witnessed a record breaking outing from starting pitcher
Johnny Blake, as he struck out a career-high 17 batters in a 7-2 victory for the Spartans.
Johnny Blake dominated from the opening pitch in his seventh start of the season. Through the first three innings, Blake recorded eight strikeouts including a stretch of five consecutive punch outs. The native of Dubuque, Iowa continued his stellar outing as he tossed six innings of no hit ball entering the top of the seventh. In the seventh inning, Blake surpassed Casey Bryant's (1998) single game strikeout record of 14 by fanning three more Simpson batters, now holding the all-time record with 17 strikeouts in a game. Blake only allowed one lone hit through seven innings of scoreless ball while striking out a season-high 17 of the 24 batters faced to earn his fourth win of the season.
Anthony Scanlon pitched the eight inning and allowed two runs on two hits while fanning two batters.
Shae Buskohl pitched the last inning and recorded two flyouts and a groundout.
The Spartans scored the first run off the game in the second inning as
George Sherlock crossed home plate due to a balk. In the following inning, the Spartans scored three runs on three hits increasing their lead to 4-0.
Aidan Elfering lined an RBI double into left center while
Luke Burgos tacked on an RBI single, followed by a Sherlock RBI ground out.
Kyle Radi drove in two runs in the sixth as he hit a triple down the right field line. The Spartans added one more insurance run in the seventh as they defeated the Storm in the first game of series 7-2.
Burgos, Radi, Elfering and
JD Schaffer accounted for nine of the Spartans 12 hits.
Up Next
The Spartans are now 15-8 overall and 4-4 in A-R-C play. The series will continue tomorrow as the Spartans and Storm square off in a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
