DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque softball team used some late game heroics to rally for a 3-2 win in Thursday's opener against the Augustana College Vikings and dropped game two 9-0 in the night cap.

The Spartans scored three runs with eight hits and played errorless in game one. UD led 1-0 through three innings before Augie tied it up at the top of the fourth and took the lead in the top of the seventh inning 2-1. The Spartans responded in their final at bat with a lead off single by Amber Wisely just past first base. Lauren Jacobs reached on a fielder's coach when Augie threw down to second to get Wisley out on the play. Megan Leick stepped up and doubled to right center to put runners at second and third base. Zoe Connell singled to center field and scored both Jacobs and Leick for the 3-2 win. Connell was 2-3 at the plate with a game high three RBI's. Leick finished 2-3 at the plate

Skylar Zoeteman earned the win to improve 3-2 on the season. She tossed seven complete innings, allowed three hits and two earned runs after facing 23 batters. 

In the second contest of the day, UD scored no runs off just three hits and committed a pair of errors. The Spartans left five runners on base in the loss. Kaitlyn Powell, Payton Santore, and Leah Pena all grabbed a single. Miranda Saylor started on the mound and took the loss after two complete innings, she allowed four runs off three hits and walked three. Ciaran Rigby came in for relief and allowed one hit and gave up two unearned runs in three innings of action. Ashlyn Short pitched the final two innings and allowed three runs off five hits and struck out one batter.

UD will travel on Friday, April 17 to Nebraska when they play a doubleheader against the Nebraska Wesleyan University Prairie Wolves on Saturday, April 18. Sunday, April 19 UD will travel to Storm Lake, Iowa to face the Buena Vista University Beavers (re-scheduled from April 4). Both contests are scheduled for 1:00/3:00 p.m. A day's rest and the Spartans will prepare for their final trio of A-R-C games. Tuesday, April 21 UD will host the Coe College Kohawks at 2:00/4:00 p.m. in Dubuque, Saturday April 25, UD will host Senior Day against the Wartburg College Knights at 1:00/3:00 p.m. Sunday, April 26 the Spartans travel to Pella, Iowa (re-scheduled from April 12). The American Rivers Conference Tournament begins on May 8 at a site yet to be determined.