Spartans Softball Homer in IIAC Sweep
Apr 1, 2014
STORM LAKE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque softball team opened Iowa Conference play on the road on Tuesday and displayed an impressive offensive output en route to a sweep of the host Buena Vista University Beavers 10-3 in game one and 10-7 in game two. Coach Wendi Wipperfurth has her squad hitting the ball deep, the Spartans finished the series with six homeruns. UD has 17 homeruns for the 2013-14 season and improved to 13-5 overall and 2-0 in IIAC.
The Spartans improved their team hitting to .324 and slugging percentage to .528. Top hitter Hannah Koerperich leads the offense with a .444 hitting aversge and a slugging percentage of 1.000 with a team high six homeruns. and 24 RBI's.
In game one, UD never trailed as they grabbed an early lead in first inning after the Beavers committed two errors allowing the Spartans to get a run. UD broke the game open in the second inning when they scored three runs on three hits. UD's offense was spread throughout the team with eight Spartans collecting a combined 16 hits in the opening victory. Meggie Schmidt and Hannah Koerperich each homered and both would finish two hits. Ainsley Billesbach went 3-4 at the plate and scored three RBI's.
Amanda Williams captured the win on the mound after throwing a complete game and gave up just three earned runs. She would face 28 batters and allowed only five hits after striking out five batters.
Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Univ. of Dubuque.... 130 123 0 - 10 16 2 Buena Vista Univ.... 000 210 0 - 3 5 2 ----------------------------------------- |
| E - Schmidt; Gerace; Engleman; Boland. LOB - Dubuque 8; Buena Vista 4. 2B - Meyer; Billesbach. HR - Schmidt; Koerperich. HBP - Kuras. SH - Pohlman; Berkey 2. SB - Schmidt; Pohlman; Borden. CS - Meyer; Hayden. |
In the second game, the hits never slowed as UD earned 10 runs in 13 hits. The Spartans scored two runs to start the game and fell behind 4-2 in the first inning. The Spartans would continue to score in all, but two innings. Megan Loes started the game on the mound and went two complete innings before Williams returned to finish the final five innings and collecting her second win of the afternoon. Williams gave up two hits and two earned runs in the Spartans 13th victory and second IIAC win of the season.
Eight Spartans would finish with hits, but the game belonged to Koerperich who finished the nightcap with four hits in four at bats. She finished with three RBI's and was one of four Spartans to finish the game with a homerun. Joining Koerperich in the long ball were teammates: Schmidt, Billesbach, and Caitlin Aulwes.
Defensively the Spartans played errorless ball including one double play while forcing the host Beavers into committing four errors.
Score by Innings R H E ----------------------------------------- Univ. of Dubuque.... 214 002 1 - 10 13 0 Buena Vista Univ.... 410 020 0 - 7 9 4 ----------------------------------------- |
| E - Hayden; Stocker; Engleman; Kubik. DP - Dubuque 1. LOB - Dubuque 6; Buena Vista 7. 2B - Meyer; Koerperich 2; Gerace; Pilcher; Engleman. HR - Schmidt; Koerperich; Aulwes; Billesbach; Engleman. HBP - Stocker. SB - Kuras; Hayden; Pilcher; Vokt. CS - Schmidt. |
