DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque Spartans softball team welcomed in the Norse of Luther College as they opened up the start of an eight game home stand. On a comfortable spring afternoon, the Spartans dropped the first game by a score of 0-7 and then lost 2-10 in five innings.
The Norse captured the first lead of the game as they tacked on a run in the second inning.
Katie Hayes recorded the Spartans first hit in the third inning and advanced into scoring position at third base off a two out hit from
Grace Stevenson, but the Spartans left the runners stranded. After a scoreless fourth inning, the Norse added a run in fifth. The Spartans threatened in the bottom half of the inning loading the bases, but were unable to score any runs still trailing 0-2. Luther rattled off five runs in the seventh as the Spartans lost game one 0-7.
Kayleen Sebo started the game and faced 18 batters through four innings allowing one earned run on three hits in the loss.
Ally Gullette came in relief and pitched three innings giving up three earned runs on four hits while striking out one. The Spartans tallied six hits led by Stevenson who went 2-4 from the plate, while
Kaitlyn Powell,
Anna Luczak,
Bella Allison, and Hayes each had a single.
In Game two, the Spartans cracked through the scoreboard first in the second inning. After back-to-back walks from
Amber Wisely and
Chloe Hild,
Tricia Sporaa drove in Wisely on an RBI single a few batters later. The Norse evened the game in the third and then took the lead in the fourth platting three runs as the Spartans trailed 1-4. Luther extended their lead in the fifth as they scored six runs on seven hits. The Spartans continued to battle as they recorded three hits including an RBI single from
Chloe Hild in the final frame.
Jaelyn Blakemore tossed the opening 4 1/3 innings surrendering six earned runs on 11 hits while fanning one batter.
Ciaran Rigby pitched the final 2/3 of an inning and allowed three earned runs on four hits. A trio of Spartans went 2-3 from the plate including Allison, Sporaa, and
Bailey Ford who had an extra base hit with a double off the wall.
Up Next
The Spartans are now 6-15 overall and 0-8 in conference. Thursday, April 11 the Spartans return to the UD Softball Field and will host the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Pioneers in a non-conference doubleheader. The first game is scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m.
