Spartans Take Two from Top-Ranked Norse
Apr 9, 2014
DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque softball team out hit #8-ranked Luther twice on Wednesday to capture a much needed sweep in the tough Iowa Conference to improve to 4-2 in league action and 17-9 overall. The Spartans used late game heroics to capture game one. Bottom of the seventh inning with score knotted at 6-6. UD began with a walk to Caitlin Aulwes. A pop up to the pitcher and a strike out left the Spartans with one out remaining. Ainsley Billesbach at bat, fouled off first pitch. Second pitch was a ball. The third pitch was a double to left field scoring Aulwes for the game winning hit 7-6. In game two, the Spartans jumped out early and captured the sweep by winning 6-4.
The Norse broke open game one with a four run fourth inning, UD rallied for three runs in bottom of the fourth. UD earnd three runs off two hits and stranded two runners on base despite a two run homerun and three RBI's by Aulwes. The Spartans took their first lead of the opening game in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Carlee Grunder pinch hit for Jen Pohlman. Grunder grounded out to 2b. Billesbach singled to left field. Dia Borden pinch ran for Billesbach. Meggie Schmidt singled through the right side. Borden advanced to second. Gerace reached on a fielder's choice. Schmidt advanced to second; Borden out at third lf to 3b. Amber Meyer walked. Kellie Gerace advanced to second; Schmidt advanced to third. Hannah Koerperich hit by pitch, RBI. Meyer advanced to second; Gerace advanced to third; Schmidt scored. Tori Woltz singled to right field, advanced to second on the throw, 2 RBI. Koerperich advanced to third, out at home rf to 2b to c; Meyer scored; Gerace scored.
Game tied 6-6, Aulwes walked. Kuras popped up to p. Pohlman struck out swinging. Billesbach doubled to left field, RBI and scored Aulwes. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Univ. of Dubuque 7, Luther College 6 (Apr 09, 2014 at Dubuque, Iowa) (Game 1)
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Luther College...... 000 401 1 - 6 6 1 (17-5, 2-3 IIAC)
Univ. of Dubuque.... 000 303 1 - 7 7 1 (16-9, 3-2 IIAC)
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Pitchers: Luther College - Becca Girvan and Kayla Hatting. Univ. of Dubuque - Amanda Williams;
Megan Loes(6) and Amber Meyer.
Win-Megan Loes(4-2) Loss-Becca Girvan(9-3) T-2:10 A-150
HR LUTSB - Carli Radil.
HR DBQSB - Caitlin Aulwes (2).
Weather: 60, partly cloudy
The Spartans scored four runs in the third inning to take an early lead in the second game. A pair of errors left the opportunities for the Spartans to extend the inning and finished with four runs after collecting just two hits.
Koerperich found her early season form on the mound and allowed one earned run after facing 27 batters. Amber Meyer homered to left field for the lone RBI in sixth inning. The Norse would score a run in the seventh, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Spartans six runs.
UD combined to finish the afternoon with 16 hits and committed just two errors. The Spartans have 20 homeruns and a team slugging percentage of .483. UD has 156 runs scored and 142 RBI's in 2014.
Univ. of Dubuque 6, Luther College 4 (Apr 09, 2014 at Dubuque, Iowa) (Game 2)
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Luther College...... 100 200 1 - 4 7 2 (17-6, 2-4 IIAC)
Univ. of Dubuque.... 104 001 X - 6 9 1 (17-9, 4-2 IIAC)
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Pitchers: Luther College - Topanga Skiles; Annie Versnik(4) and . Univ. of Dubuque -
Amanda Williams; Hannah Koerperich(2) and .
Win-Hannah Koerperich Loss-Topanga Skiles T-1:40 A-188
HR DBQSB - Amber Meyer.
