MOUNT VERNON, Iowa - The University of Dubuque softball team suffered a sweep on a windy, chilly Sunday afternoon. UD broke a school record by scoring 19 runs on a opening loss 20-19 and set a two-game total record of 34 runs after losing the second game to Cornell College 16-15. UD led through six and a half innings before the host Rams hit a three run walk-off homerun to end both games in the same fashion.
The Spartans scored 19 runs off 18 hits and committed three errors. UD added two runs in the top of the first, second, and fourth innings. A big eight run fifth inning would tie the game 14-14. Each team added a run in the six to remain knotted at 15-15. The Spartans looked like they were on the way to a win after posting four runs in the top of the seventh and leading 19-15. Cornell opened with a single, a double, a single scoring a run and another single scoring a run. The next at bat would send the ball deep for a three-run walk-off homerun and end the game in favor of the Rams 20-19.
Megan Leick led UD with five RBI's, scored three runs and was 2-4 at the plate with a pair of doubles.
Katie Hayes added four RBI's after a 3-5 at the plate with three doubles. Four Spartans would walk away with two RBI's each:
Grace Stevenson (3-4, scored four runs with a double and a homerun),
Lauren Jacobs (2-6, a run scored and two stolen bases),
Zoe Connell (1-5, a run scored), and
Madison Taeger (3-4, two runs scored and two doubles). UD left 10 runners on base in the loss.
Ally Gullette started and went three innings on the mound, allowed seven hits, eight runs with five being earned and faced 18 batters.
Amber Wisely took the loss after she came in for relief and tossed the final three innings, allowed 16 hits, 12 runs and 11 earned runs and faced 27 batters.
Game two, UD jumped out quickly and led 4-0 after one inning of action. UD added a run in the second, but then allowed a six run bottom of the second inning Ram offensive output. UD scored two runs in the fourth, five runs in the fifth, a run in the sixth and two in the seventh to lead 15-12. UD put the first batter on base by hitting the batter and she advanced to second on a passed ball. The next batter struck out looking and the following flew out to left field for the second out. The next batter singled and scored a runner, cutting the lead to 15-13. Cornell used a pitch hitter who was 2-18 on the season and she would send the ball over left center for the Rams second three-run walk-off homerun to end the second game in favor of the host Rams 16-15 and earning a sweep of UD. The Spartans scored 15 runs off 19 hits and committed one error. Cornell scored 16 runs off 18 hits and committed two errors.
Katie Hayes finished the game with five RBI's (4-5, a run scored with a pair of doubles).
Kaitlyn Powell collected four RBI's (3-5, two runs scored and two doubles).
Megan Leick had two RBI's (3-5, with two runs scored).
Ciaran Rigby tossed a complete game 6.2 innings, allowed 18 hits with 16 earned runs, walked nine and struck our four after facing 47 batters.
The Spartans 11-5 overall will travel across Dubuque on Tuesday to play at Loras College (11-7 overall) in the NWCA Strikeout Cancer doubleheader beginning at 2:00 p.m. This is the American Rivers Conference opener for both teams.
