DUBUQUE, Iowa – The University of Dubuque concluded their Cancer Awareness series against Luther College with a doubleheader split on Saturday afternoon. The Spartans took game one 4-1 while the Norse took game two 8-4.

Game One

The first few innings of game one were relatively quiet. The Spartans worked around several jams on defense but couldn't push any runners across early. Tanner Simmons quieted Luther's potent offense with six shutout innings. The Spartans finally got the Norse's starter in the sixth, when Will Sullivan started the inning with a single. Brady Buchmann was hit by pitch on the next plate appearance, putting two on with none out. Logan Cadenhead drove in Sullivan and Donald Kennedy, who came in to pinch run, with a double down the left-field line, giving the Spartans a 2-0 lead. Vic Pico and Zavion Ingram followed with base hits, with Pico scoring Cadenhead and Ingram scoring Pico. The Spartans held a 4-0 lead after the sixth inning. After a couple of clean frames from Connor Lyons, the Norse loaded the bases with none out in the ninth. Pico entered on the mound and struck out the first batter he faced. He induced a sacrifice fly and fielder's choice on the next two Norse hitters to collect the save as the Spartans won 4-1.

The Spartans finished the game with six hits, as Sullivan was the only player with multiple hits. Cadenhead's double was the deciding hit and the only extra-base hit for the Spartans. Simmons collected the win after limiting the Norse to three hits. Simmons walked five and struck out eight through six innings of work. Lyons tossed the next two frames, giving up three hits and an earned run while walking one and striking out two. Pico finished the game and was credited with the save after recording the final three outs.

Game Two

Luther plated a run in the first and third innings, taking an early 2-0 lead. Sullivan scored on a passed ball in the next half-inning, cutting the Spartans' deficit to one. Jack Richards stole home in the fourth inning, tying the game at two. Pico scored later in the frame to give the Spartans a 3-2 lead. The Norse scored three unearned runs in the fifth to take a 5-3 lead that they would not relinquish. They tacked on three more in the seventh inning, and despite a comeback bid, the Spartans fell 8-4.

Sullivan, Ashr Harris, and Alex Kirman tallied the only Spartans hits during the second game. Richards stole two bases and became the first Spartan to steal home in the 2026 campaign. On the mound, Shae Buskohl made his first start in several weeks, logging four innings and allowing two runs on five hits, walking one and striking out four. Matthew Risser was tagged with the loss after allowing two runs in two-third of an inning in relief of Buskohl. Jaden Marcus pitched the final two frames, only allowing one hit and striking out two while allowing no runs.

Up Next

At 4-2 in the A-R-C, the Spartans are locked in a four-way tie for first place with Central, Coe, and Loras. The Spartans will battle the Kohawks on Tuesday, March 31 in a pivotal midweek game for the league championship. Tuesday's contest is set for 3:00 p.m. at Dan. W. Runkle Field.