Eastman Throws Shutout in Game 1, Spartans Split Luther Series
Apr 21, 2013 | J.Crane
DUBUQUE, IOWA – The University of Dubuque Baseball team continued its push towards a conference tournament bid by taking two of four games from Luther College (10-14, 6-10) over the weekend. The Spartans won the first game on Sunday, 1-0, with Josh Eastman (Edgerton, Wis./Edgerton) throwing a complete game, two hit shutout. UD lost the final game of the series, 9-4. Dubuque is now 8-18 overall and 6-12 in the Iowa Conference.
Game 1: Dubuque-1, Luther-0 BOX SCORE
Josh Eastman continued his outstanding pitching with his four complete game of the season and picked up his first win of the season. Eastman had a no-hitter going into the fifth inning before giving up one of only two hits allowed all game. The shutout lowered his ERA to an IIAC best 1.33.
The Spartans were able to score in the fourth inning with one hit, a walk, two Luther errors, and a hit batter. Andy Danna (Antioch, Ill./Antioch) led off the inning with a single to right field and advanced to second after a failed pickoff attempt. After a Spartan out, Spencer Kuehn (Dana Point, Calif./Dana Hills) drew a walk to put runners on first and second. With two outs in the inning, Jordan Gawronski (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago) reached to load the bases on a Norse error. With the bases loaded and two outs, Kyle Duggan (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Linn-Mar) was hit on the elbow by an inside pitch to force home Danna and give UD a 1-0 lead.
Eastman kept the infield busy with 12 of 21 outs coming on groundballs.
Game 2: Dubuque-4, Luther-9 BOX SCORE
Looking for the sweep and series victory, the UD defense had a rough game committing four errors leading to six unearned runs. Luther scored four unearned runs in the second and two more in the third to take a 6-0 lead. Luther scored three earned runs in the fourth to take a 9-0 lead after four innings. UD chipped away at the nine run deficit with runs in the fifth, sixth, and seventh inning.
Dubuque was able to score an unearned run in the fifth with Danna reaching on an error and advancing to second on a Nick Martin (Orland Hills, Ill./Andrew) single that hit third base for an infield single. Kuehn followed with a single to right center to score Danna. Brock Grubbs (Bondurant, Iowa/Bondurant-Farrar) reached on a walk and eventually scored on a double play in the sixth.
Kuehn and Michael Campbell (Clinton, Mo./Clinton) each had RBI singles in the seventh inning to make the score 9-4. UD loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh but were unable to push across any other runs, leaving three runners on base. The Spartans threatened in the eighth but once again were unable to score, leaving two runners on base.
Tyler Trifiletti (Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury) took the loss for the Spartans allowing four unearned runs in 1 2/3 inning pitched. Max Nank (Waterloo, Iowa/Waterloo West) pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings of relief.
UP NEXT: The Spartans will travel to Waverly, Iowa on Friday, April 26th to take on IIAC leading Wartburg College (25-5, 14-2). Game 1 begins at 3:30. UD will complete the four game series with two games on Saturday, April 27th.
