INDIANOLA, Iowa - The University of Dubuque baseball team needed a win on Saturday to qualify for the 2025 American Rivers Conference Tournament, but lost the doubleheader to the Simpson College Storm by scores of 9-5 and 8-3. The Spartans end their season with a 19-20 overall record and 10-14 in A-R-C play.

UD scored five runs on 11 hits, but committed four errors in the opener as Simpson scored nine runs off seven hits and played errorless. Aidan Elfering took the loss after tossing seven innings and striking out four of the 30 batters faced. Joshua Kupetz threw the final inning and struck out one. 

UD's offense was led by the quartet of Jake Cekander (2-4, a run scored), Cameron Pratt (2-4, a run scored with an RBI), JD Schaffer (2-5, a run scored, a homerun in the fourth inning and two RBI's), and Daniel Maller (2-4, an RBI). Justin Potts had the game's lone triple. The Spartahs left 10 runners on base and the host Storm left just one runner on base.

In game two, the Spartans scored first and held the lead until the third inning when the Storm added three runs to the board.UD rallied late by scoring twice in the top of the ninth, but left bases loaded as the game ended. UD scored three runs off eight hits and made one error and Simpson scored eight runs with 10 hits. UD stranded 12 runners on base and Simpson left seven runners on base.

Will Sullivan had a pair of hits and scored a run. Tyson Dent was 2-5 and Vic Pico had the teams only extra base hit with a double. UD started the game with Shae Buskohl who took the loss and he went 3.1 innings before Angel Reyes (1.2 innings), Josh Rogde (1.0 innings), Brendan McQuillan (.1 innings), and Joshua Kupetz (1.2 innings) came in for relief in the loss.

The Spartans finished tied for six place, but lost the tie-break with Nebraska Wesleyan University for the final qualifying spot. 

2025 A-R-C Tournament Championship Schedule:

Thursday, May 8
Game 1 11:00 a.m. - #3 Luther College vs. #6 Nebraska Wesleyan Wesleyan at Field 2 (Mount Mercy University)
Game 2 11:00 a.m. - #4 Wartburg College vs. #5 Simpson College at Veterans Memorial Stadium
Game 3 2:00 p.m. - Game 2 Winner vs. #1 Buena Vista University at Veterans Memorial Stadium
Game 5 3:00 p.m. - Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser at Field 2 (Mount Mercy University)
Game 4 5:00 p.m. - Game 1 Winner vs. #2 Coe College at Veterans Memorial Stadium

Friday, May 9 (All Games at Veterans Memorial)
Game 6 12:00 p.m. - Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Winner
Game 7 3:00 p.m. - Game 5 Winner vs. Lower Seeded Loser of Games 3 & 4
Game 8 6:00 p.m. - Game 7 Winner vs. Higher Seeded Loser of Games 3 & 4
(Exception: If one of the game 3 or 4 losers has already had a bye, that team will play in Game 7, regardless of seed.)

Saturday, May 10 (All Games at Veterans Memorial)
Game 9 11:00 a.m. - Game 8 Winner vs. Game 6 Loser
Game 10 2:00 p.m. - Game 6 Winner vs. Game 9 Winner
Game 11 5:00 p.m. - Game 6 Winner vs. Game 9 Winner (if necessary)