Spartan Softball Spring Break Results
Mar 21, 2015
Spartan Softball Spring Break Results
Complete game recaps and box scores of the University of Dubuque softball team's six-day spring break trip to Tucson, Ariz.
*Most recent game recaps are listed first
HIGHLIGHTS
The Spartans started off hot after winning three of their first four games by the combined score of 16-2. UD's starter Amanda Williams picked up the victories against UM-Crookston and Edgewood College after tossing a combined 10.0 innings and allowing just four hits while striking out nine.
UD scored four runs as the Spartans spiraled into a three-game losing streak that included their third defeat to UW-La Crosse this season. The Spartans would break out of the funk with a walkoff victory over Lewis & Clark (Ore.), 4-3, aided by a 3B Kelli Gerace bases-loaded walk. Gerace also hit a sixth-inning home run that put the Spartans in position to win it down the stretch.
The Spartans dropped their final two games, including their fourth straight against the pesky UW-La Crosse Eagles.
The DeKalb, Ill. native lit up the Tucson, Ariz. sky after raking three home runs, six RBIs, and posting a slugging percentage of .576 over 10 spring break games.
Williams (1.17 ERA) and fellow starter Hannah Koerperich (1.72) both sported ERAs under 2.00 for the duration of the trip.
FINAL SPRING BREAK RECORD: 4-6
OVERALL RECORD: 7-9
| Date | Opponent | Result |
| March 16 | Crown (Minn.) | W, 6-2 |
| March 16 | Edgewood (Wis.) | W, 2-0 |
| March 17 | Puget Sound (Wash.) | L, 4-6 |
| March 17 | (DII) UM-Crookston | W, 8-0 (5 inn.) |
| March 18 | (NAIA) Huntington Univ. (Ind.) | L, 0-3 |
| March 18 | Marian Univ. (Wis.) | L, 3-6 |
| March 20 | UW-La Crosse | L, 1-3 |
| March 20 | Lewis & Clark (Ore.) | W, 4-3 |
| March 21 | Pacific Lutheran (Wash.) | L, 7-8 |
| March 21 | UW-La Crosse | L, 2-4 |
BATTING LEADERS
| Spartan | AVG | OBP | SLG | R | XBH | HR | RBI |
| DH/SS Schmidt | .405 | .405 | .541 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 4 |
| SS Grunder | .400 | .471 | .400 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| C Markin | .304 | .333 | .304 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 3B Gerace | .273 | .314 | .576 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 6 |
Highlighted = Led team
PITCHING LEADERS
| Spartan | G | GS | ERA | W-L | IP | SV | K | BB |
| Williams | 5 | 5 | 1.17 | 2-3 | 24.0 | 0 | 24 | 18 |
| Koerperich | 6 | 2 | 1.72 | 2-1 | 20.1 | 0 | 9 | 8 |
| Schlueter | 4 | 2 | 3.71 | 0-0 | 11.1 | 0 | 12 | 6 |
Highlighted = Led team
Game 10 vs. UW-La Crosse (March 21)
BOX SCORE
Eagles Sneak by Spartans for Fourth Time This Season
TUCSON, Ariz. - The University of Dubuque softball team dropped their third straight, two-run game to UW-La Crosse, 4-2, and their fourth overall this season on Saturday afternoon.
The Spartans (7-9) have recorded nearly half of their losses to the Eagles and couldn't turn the tables on UW-La Crosse despite jumping out to a 2-0 lead to start the game. Designated hitter Meggie Schmidt led off with her team-high fifth double of the season and later scored on an Eagle error. Leftfielder Andrea Smith followed up Schmidt with a single and later scored on SS Carlee Grunder's RBI groundout.
The Eagles weren't fazed as UW-La Crosse (14-6) soared past UD with a four-run burst that included three runs in the second inning and one in the third.
The Spartans were limited to four hits by the Eagles pitching staff that included Jessie Carignan (5-1), who has earned the win over UD in three of the Eagles four victories. UD starter Megan Loes (1-3) received the loss after giving up four earned runs, five hits, and five walks in 3.0 innings on the bump. Relieving Loes was Hannah Koerperich who tossed 3.0 scoreless innings and gave up one hit.
UD has been outscored 18-7 in their four meetings with La Crosse and drop to 1-8 against the Eagles in the all-time series.
Game 9 vs. Pacific Lutheran (Wash.) (March 21)
BOX SCORE
Late Error Trips Up Spartans
TUCSON, Ariz. - A seventh-inning error by the Spartans in the top of the seventh helped Pacific Lutheran score the go-ahead run as the University of Dubuque softball team fell, 8-7, on Saturday afternoon.
Errors were the Spartans (7-8) achilles heel after three miscues translated to four unearned runs for Pacific Lutheran. Aided by one unearned run in each inning, the Lutes (9-9) plated three runs in the top of the sixth and two runs in the top of the seventh to overtake the lead down the stretch.
UD held onto a 6-2 advantage prior to Pacific Lutheran's 5-run spurt.
Despite the loss, the Spartan offense were a well-oiled machine after nabbing 14 hits in 36 at-bats. Leftfielder Andrea Smith and SS Carlee Grunder paced the Spartans with three hits a piece, while CF Gianna Kuras totaled a team-high three RBIs.
Spartan starter Amanda Williams (2-4) gave up zero earned runs, but still received the loss after surrendering three hits, two unearned runs, and six walks in 3.2 innings of work.
It was the fifth opponent of the Spartans 10-game road trip where both teams have met for the first time.
Game 8 vs. Lewis & Clark (March 20)
BOX SCORE
Gerace's Puts the Walk in Walk-Off Victory as Spartans Prevail
TUCSON, Ariz. - Third basemen Kelli Gerace drew a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the seventh after nailing a timely home run in the sixth to carry the Spartans to a 4-3 victory over Lewis & Clark (Ore.) on Friday afternoon.
Gerace's team-leading fourth home run of the year cut the Pioneers' (7-11) lead to 3-2 after six. The score remained as the Spartans (7-7) took over in the seventh. A pair of singles and a walk set up DH/SS Meggie Schmidt's one-out RBI-single that scored pinch-runner Rebecca Diffenderfer. UD's second out came at home plate in a bases loaded situation and was immediately followed by Gerace's game-winning walk.
Schmidt led the Spartan offense with four hits and one RBI, while Gerace's added one run and two RBIs to her long ball.
Spartan reliever Hannah Koerperich (3-2) secured the win after allowing one run (none earned) and two hits in 3.0 innings of work. Freshman starter, Megan Schlueter, pitched effectively in the second start of her career after surrendering one earned run and five hits in 4.0 innings pitched.
The win snapped a three-game skid and gave UD the 1-0 lead over Lewis & Clark in the series.
Game 7 vs. UW-La Crosse (March 20)
BOX SCORE
Spartans Poached by Eagles Again
TUCSON, Ariz. - For the third time this season, the University of Dubuque softball team was defeated by UW-La Crosse after a 3-1 setback on Friday afternoon.
The Spartans have lost three games to the Eagles (12-6) by the combined score of 14-5. UW-La Crosse has been a tough out for UD historically and hold a 7-1 advantage in the series.
Freshman C Courtney Markin came up big after finishing 3-for-3 at the dish and scored the Spartans (6-7) lone run as they tallied seven total hits. The UD bats were held in check by Eagles' (12-6) starter Jessie Carignan (3-1) who gave up an RBI-single to RF Dia Borden in the bottom of the fifth for the Spartans only score. Carignan added three strikeouts and gave up six hits in 5.0 innings of work.
Spartan starter Amanda Williams (2-3) surrendered just five hits in her seventh start of the season, but allowed six walks as well. The Eagles offense sputtered, but took advantage of the free passes as they put together three, one-run innings. Williams also struck out five while allowing three earned runs in 6.0 innings on the bump.
Game 6 vs. Marian University (Wis.) (March 18)
BOX SCORE
Spartans Can't Overcome 6-0 Deficit in Defeat
TUCSON, Ariz. - The University of Dubuque softball team allowed a 6-0 lead through the first five innings and couldn't recover in a 6-3 setback to Marian University (Wis.) on Wednesday afternoon.
A pair of timely errors put the Spartans in an early hole as four of Marian's six runs were unearned.
After one run in the top of the sixth, the Spartans (6-6) looked to counter their defensive misfortunes and took their last stand in the final stanza. Freshman reliever, Megan Schlueter, who tossed a scoreless 1.1 innings in relief, played a dual threat after leading off with a double. RF Dia Borden brought her home with an RBI-single and later scored on a Sabre error. With zero outs and one on, the Sabres (5-8) retired three of the next four batters as the Spartans left two runners stranded to end the game.
Spartan starter Hannah Koerperich (2-2) took home the loss after giving up six runs (two earned) and 10 hits in 4.2 innings on the bump.
Marian finished with 11 hits on the day and the Spartans countered with nine of their own.
The Spartans fell to 0-4 in the series vs. the Sabres.
UD has a day off on Thursday, March 19 and take on UW-Lacrosse and Lewis & Clark (Ore.) starting at 12:00 p.m. (central time).
Game 5 vs. (NAIA) Huntington University (Ind.) (March 18)
BOX SCORE
Spartans Have No Answer for Huntington Starter
TUCSON, Ariz. - The University of Dubuque softball team was shut out for the second time this season, despite mustering six hits in a 3-0 loss to Huntington University (Ind.) on Wednesday morning.
Leadoff hitter DH Meggie Schmidt and SS Carlee Grunder led the Spartans (6-5) with two hits a piece, but couldn't make a dent in Huntington starter Puterbaugh's 7.0 innings on the mound.
Puterbaugh finished the game with 10 strikeouts and allowed six total hits while walking two. On the flip side, UD starter Amanda Williams (2-2) posted a solid performance over 4.1 innings after surrendering three runs (one earned), six hits, one walk, and striking out two in her sixth start of the year.
Huntington snagged their first two runs in the bottom of the third thanks to a single and one error. The Foresters managed one run in the bottom of the fifth despite nabbing four hits and left the bases loaded to end the inning.
It was the Spartans third straight game of facing an opponent for the first time in history.
Game 4 vs. UM-Crookston (March 17)
BOX SCORE
Spartans Throttle UM-Crookston Behind Williams and Potent Offense
TUCSON, Ariz. - Leadoff hitter DH Meggie Schmidt played lights out after two-hit, three-RBI performance combined with starter Amanda Williams five innings of shutout ball helped defeat UM-Crookston, 8-0, in five innings on Tuesday afternoon.
The Spartan offense plated eight runs on eight hits while Williams (2-1) silenced the Golden Eagles (2-11) to the tune of six strikeouts and one hit allowed in 5.0 innings of work. Williams leads the Spartans with 19 strikeouts over 22.0 innings this season.
Sporting a 1-0 lead after the first, the Spartans (6-4) added three in the second via a SS Carlee Grunder score off a Golden Eagle error and a two-RBI double by Schmidt down the right field line. Grunder is currently batting a team-best .414 and also leads the team in on-base percentage (.469) as well.
With Williams in command on the mound, UD added four runs off four hits in the top of the fourth that included a two-RBI double by LF Andrea Smith. Smith added two RBIs and a team-high two runs on the day. 3B Kelli Gerace and 1B Tori Woltz were the two other Spartans to record an RBI after they tallied one a piece.
The Spartans won the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
Game 3 vs. Puget Sound (Wash.) (March 17)
BOX SCORE
Late Run by Loggers Dooms Spartans
TUCSON, Ariz. - Despite a 3-for-3 day at the dish by SS Carlee Grunder, the University of Dubuque softball team didn't have an answer after four straight runs by Puget Sound over the final two innings handed UD the 6-4 defeat.
The Spartans (5-3) struck first after DH Meggie Schmidt's leadoff single to start the game led to a 1-0 lead courtesy of a Logger error. UD surrendered two Logger runs, but countered with two runs of their own, both off two Logger errors, in the bottom of the 5th to take the 4-2 lead.
The Loggers (2-16) took advantage of two hits and two Spartan errors to plate four runs between the sixth and seventh innings to put the game away.
Both teams committed three errors on the afternoon with UD holding the advantage in total hits, 8-7.
PH Kayleigh Leddy recorded the Spartans lone RBI while starting pitcher Megan Schlueter looked solid in her first career start after giving up two earned runs, four hits, and striking out five in 4.0 innings of work. Reliever Megan Loes (1-2) received the loss after surrendering two hits and one earned run in 1.2 innings of relief.
It was the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
Game 2 vs. Edgewood College (Wis.) (March 16)
BOX SCORE
Williams, Loes, and a Pair of Errors Aids Spartan Win Over Eagles
TUCSON, Ariz. - The University of Dubuque softball team plated both runs thanks to a pair of Edgewood errors and ride starter Amanda Williams and reliever Megan Loes to a 2-0 victory.
Williams (1-1) snagged her first win of the year and Loes (S, 1) earned her first save as the duo combined for 7.0 innings of shutout ball. Williams gave up three hits and struck out three Eagle batters in 5.0 innings, while Loes failed to surrender a hit and struck out one Eagle in 2.0 innings of relief.
Spartan DH Meggie Schmidt's leadoff double to start the game got the ball rolling as she latered scored thanks to a sacrifice bunt and an error by the Eagles (4-7) catcher. The Spartans (5-3) would strike again in the bottom of the sixth as C Courtney Markin plated UD's final run after a leadoff single and another error by the Eagles.
The Eagles finished with three hits while UD totaled two hits on the bats of Schmidt and Markin. Edgewood committed four errors on the afternoon.
Game 1 vs. Crown College (Minn.) (March 16)
BOX SCORE
Koerperich and Co. Douse the Storm
TUCSON, Ariz. - Starter Hannah Koerperich held Crown College to four hits over 7.0 innings as the University of Dubuque softball team pulled away, 6-2, thanks to a three-run third.
Up 1-0 in the top of the third, the Spartans' (4-3) LF Andrea Smith pushed a single through the left side to get things going. A pair of errors and an RBI each from 3B Kelli Gerace, SS Carlee Grunder, and 1B Tori Woltz extended the lead to 4-0. Crown (0-14), who scored 17 runs in their first 13 games, countered UD with two runs in the bottom of the inning.
A pair of insurance runs in the top of the sixth courtesy of Grunder and CF Gianna Kuras sealed the deal.
Kuras, Woltz, and Gerace each finished with two hits a piece, while Grunder nabbed a team-high three hits, two runs, and two RBIs.
Koerperich (2-1) earned the win and added five strikeouts in her third start of the year.
