CARLINVILLE, Ill. - The University of Dubuque softball team beat the approaching inclement weather in the Midwest on Friday afternoon and earned a road sweep of Blackburn College. The Spartans won the opener 1-0 and captured the sweep with a 2-0 score in game two. UD improved to 11-3 overall, which bests last year's win total of 10 for first year head coach Kristen Duross.

In the opener, UD scored one run off four hits and didn't commit an error. Blackburn were held scoreless and compiled five hits and committed two errors. The Spartans lone run was scored off a wild pitch. The American Rivers Conference softball position player of the week, Lauren Jacobs, had the lone extra base hit of the game with a double. Ally Gullette tossed a complete game and walked just one runner after facing 26 batters.

Game two was looking much like the first with the Spartans holding a one run lead through six innings. Top of the seventh, Megan Leick pitch hit in the lead-off and homered to add a second run to UD's lead. UD scored two runs off seven hits and committed one error. Blackburn was held scoreless after five hits and one error. The Spartans Kaitlyn Powell went 2-4 at the plate with a double and a run scored. Lauren Jacobe grabbed a second double on the day and was 1-3 at the plate. Ciaran Rigby earned the victory on the mound after a complete seven innings where she struck out eight and walked five batters.

UD is off for a week before playing at Cornell College on Sunday, March 23 and 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.