INDIANOLA, Iowa - The University of Dubuque baseball team began their final regular season series of the year on Friday afternoon on the road at the Simpson College Storm. The Spartans won the series opener 6-3 and are now one win away from qualifying for the A-R-C Tournament.

Jake Cekander opened the game with a solo shot to right field to give the Spartans a quick 1-0 lead. The Storm tied it in the bottom of the second on an RBI single. The Storm were able to score two runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 3-1 lead. 

That lead did not last long as the Spartans scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning off two RBI singles and a passed ball by the Simpson catcher scored a run for the Spartans. The Spartans added on some insurance in the top of the ninth inning as Justin Potts hit an RBI triple and then Potts was able to score on a Simpson wild pitch during the following at-bat. 

Simpson threatened in the bottom of the ninth with two runners on and the tying run at the plate, but back-to-back strikeouts sealed the series opening victory for the Spartans.

Cekander and Tyson Dent each had three-hit games, while Daniel Maller added a pair of hits. Cekander and Maller accounted for four of the Spartans' six runs in the game. Charlie Jaeger pitched eight innings with three earned runs and a whopping 13 strikeouts in 34 batters faced. Cekander pitched the final inning in relief and picked up his first save of the season. 

The Spartans are now above .500 this season at 19-18 overall and 10-12 in conference play. The Spartans are now one win away from qualifying for the A-R-C Tournament. 

Up Next
The Spartans will play two tomorrow now due to rain at the end of today's game. The doubleheader will begin at 2:00 p.m.