STORM LAKE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque baseball team opened the Spartans final American Rivers Conference series on Thursday when they traveled down highway 20 to face the Buena Vista University Beavers. The Spartans fell behind early and the host Beavers would end the game after scoring their 12th run of the game in the bottom of the seventh inning in a 12-2 loss. UD will play a doubleheader on Friday, May 3 beginning at 1:00 p.m.

The Spartans scored two runs off five hits and committed a trio of errors while the Beavers tallied 12 runs off 17 hits and committed two errors. Aidan Elfering took the loss after tossing five innings and facing 29 batters. He struck out four and allowed seven earned runs.

Kyle Radi grabbed a double in the top of the sixth inning to right field for his lone hit of the afternoon. He would score when Colin Husko singled to center field for the first run for the Spartans. Aidan Elfering reached on a fielder's choice in the next at bat and Husko advanced to second and would reach third after an error by the third baseman. Jake Cekander stepped up and singled through the right side to score Husko for the second run of the day and advanced Elfering to second. A double play ended the inning.

The two squads return to action on Friday as they try and battle for the final standings of the A-R-C for the league tournament which begins in a week in Cedar Rapids. The 2024 A-R-C Baseball Tournament begins on Thursday, May 9 and will finish on Saturday, May 11 with the champion advancing to the 2024 NCAA Division III Baseball National Championships with the automatic bid. Loras College is the host for the 2024 tournament championship.