STORM LAKE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque softball team jumped out to a quick early lead in the opening game on Sunday, April 19 and held on to a 8-5 victory over the Buena Vista University Beavers. In the second game, UD journeyed to the bottom of the seventh inning with a 2-0 Spartans lead. The Beavers in their final at bat would lead off with a strike out looking. The next batter popped up to the shortstop for the second out. The third batter would double. The fourth batter would single sending the Beavers first run of the game across the plate. Late game heroics by the Beavers would end game two in favor of the host Beavers. A pair of strikes and the hometown hero from Storm Lake and BV's leadoff hitter would send a shot over the fence for a two run homerun and a comeback for BVU 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh.
The Spartans scored eight runs with 15 hits in the opening contest and played errorless. BVU scored five runs with 10 hits and committed an error.
Amber Wisely led the offense with 3-4 hits at the plate. Five other Spartans would finish with two hits in the win.
Kaitlyn Powell was 2-3 with two runs score;
Lauren Jacobs was 2-4 with a team high three RBI's;
Megan Leick 2-4 with an RBI and two runs scored;
Zoe Connell 2-4 with a run scored; and
Leah Pena 2-4 with two runs scored. UD left seven runners on base and BVU stranded six runners.
Skylar Zoeteman started and went one inning after allowing four earned runs after facing nine batters.
Ashlyn Short tossed the final six innings and allowed one earned run with four strikeouts after facing 23 batters to secure her seventh win of the year.
In game two, UD finished with two runs off nine hits and made no errors. BVU scored all three runs in the bottom of the final at bat and ended with five hits and played errorless.
Peyton Santore went 3-4, had the team's only triple in the game with an RBI, and scored a run.
Zoe Connell was 2-3 at the plate and
Lauren Jacobs was 1-4 with an RBI.
Leah Pena had a double for the Spartans and was 1-3 with a run scored. UD left eight runners on base in the loss.
Ciaran Rigby took the loss after 6.1 innings and allowed three earned runs after striking out five, walking three after facing 28 batters.
The Spartans (17-15 overall, 3-7 in A-R-C) will host the Coe College Kohawks (17-13 overall, 2-6 in A-R-C) on Tuesday, April 21 at 2:00/4:00 p.m. on the UD Softball Field. UD will host the Wartburg College Knights (22-8 overall, 7-1 in A-R-C and receiving votes in NFCA Top-25 poll) on Saturday, April 25 on the Spartans Senior Day at 1:00/3:00 p.m.
