Spartans Conclude Regular Season
May 6, 2013 | J.Crane
DUBUQUE, IOWA – The University of Dubuque Baseball team finished its 2013 regular season on Monday afternoon with two games against Simpson College (16-21, 12-16). The Spartans needed to win both games to earn a spot in the Iowa Conference Tournament but lost the opener 8-6, eliminating them from contention. UD lost game two, 16-7. Dubuque finished the season with a record of 11-25 overall and 9-19 in the Iowa Conference under first year head coach Paul Wyczawski.
Game 1: Dubuque-6, Simpson-8 BOX SCORE
Facing a must win situation to keep their season alive, UD once again scored first as they pushed across one run in the first inning. The Spartans started the inning with walks by Aaron Laskowski (Edgerton, Wis./Edgerton) and Andrew Danna (Antioch, Ill./Antioch). UD then loaded the bases after a single by Spencer Kuehn (Dana Point, Calif./Dana Hills) with no outs. Needing only a fly ball to get his team on the scoreboard, Chris Briggs hit a fly ball deep down the left field line for a sacrifice fly that scored Laskowski. Simpson responded with two runs in the bottom of the second and third to take a 4-1 lead.
UD would score again in the fourth with one run on two hits and two walks. After the first two hitters of the inning were retired, Vince Parisi (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) singled and Nick Martin (Orland Hills, Ill./Andrew) walked to bring up the top of the order. With runners on first and second and two out, Laskowski singled through the right side of the infield to shallow right field. The right fielder bobbled the ball allowing Parisi to score and make the score 4-2 Simpson. Simpson once again answered back with two runs in the fifth and sixth inning to take an 8-2 advantage.
The Spartans would not go away quietly with their season on the line as they scored four runs in the seventh and were able to put the tying run in scoring position before running out of time. Laskowski continued his hot streak with a leadoff double. After a Danna walk put runners on first and second, Kuehn doubled to deep center field scoring both runners. Chris Briggs (Lombard, Ill./Montini) hit a RBI single to continue the rally. Noah Mahlik (Green Bay, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran) and John Henderson (Arlington, Texas/Sam Houston) each singled to load the bases with no outs. After a Storm pitching change, Austin Monfross (Big Timber, Mont./Sweet Grass) drove in the fourth run of the inning on a fielders choice. The next two hitters would be retired as the Spartan rally fell short with the potential tying run left stranded on second base.
Laskowski, Kuehn, and Briggs each finished with two hits.
Nick Martin took the loss on the mound for UD. Martin pitched five innings, allowing three earned runs and seven hits. He struck out one and did not walk anyone.
Game 2: Dubuque-7, Simpson-16 BOX SCORE
The second game of the doubleheader was all about the offenses as the teams combined for 23 runs and 31 hits as each team used six pitchers. UD continued its trend of scoring early with two runs in the first. The Spartans started the inning with a bunt single by Kyle Duggan (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Linn-Mar) and a double down the left field line by Danna. With runners on second and third and the infield back, Kuehn hit a RBI ground out that advanced both runners. Briggs followed with a RBI single up the middle to give UD a 2-0 lead after the first half inning of play. The Simpson hitters came out on fire as they scored five runs in the first and seven in the third to open a 12-2 lead after three innings.
Even with a large deficit in front of them, UD would not go away quietly. Mahlik started the fourth inning with a walk and advanced to third on a double to right center by Mitch Windle (Burlington, Wis./East Troy). Mahlik would score on a wild pitch and Windle scored on a RBI single by Martin to make the score 12-4.
UD would continue to mount a comeback with three runs on four hits in the sixth inning. The Spartans would do all the damage in the inning before the first out with Steve Ryan (Loveland, Colo./Mountain View) leading things off with a single to center. Ryan would go first to third on a Duggan single to right field. With runners on the corners, Duggan stole second base and advanced to third as the throw from the catcher was off line and went into centerfield scoring Ryan. Danna walked and stole second to put runners on second and third for Kuehn who singled to right to score Duggan. Briggs followed with a RBI single of his own to score Danna. With runners on first and second and no outs, the rally would end quickly as UD hit into a line drive double play. Simpson would score in the bottom of the sixth but the Spartans cut the lead to 13-7.
Simpson scored one run in the seventh and two in the eighth with UD unable to score in the games final three innings.
The Spartans finished with a season high 14 hits, led by three hits by Duggan. Kuehn, Briggs, and Ryan all finished with two hits.
Max Nank (Waterloo, Iowa/Waterloo West) was the losing pitcher for UD.
