Offense Sputters for Baseball in Pair of Defeats
Mar 31, 2015
DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque men's baseball team couldn't get their offense going in a pair of low-scoring defeats to rival Loras, 3-0 and 3-2, on Tuesday afternoon.
Game One
Loras wins 3-0
BOX SCORE
It was a pitcher's dual from the outset between both team's aces.
UD starter Josh Eastman allowed three one-run innings, all from RBI-singles, and failed to surrender one unearned run despite three Spartan errors. The Edgerton, Wis. (1-3) took the tough-luck loss after surrendering three earned runs and seven hits, while striking out three in 6.0 innings of work.
Loras (10-9, 5-4 Iowa Conference) drew first blood after an RBI-single in the bottom of the second. Eastman and the Spartans (6-11, 1-4 Iowa Conference) kept it at a 1-0 margin until the Duhawks plated one run each in the fifth and sixth innings to conclude the scoring.
The Spartan bats had no response after being limited to three hits in 22 at bats by Loras starter Adam Schwoebel (5-0). Schwoebel became the first Iowa Conference pitcher to five wins after surrendering 0 runs, while striking out four in 7.0 innings on the bump.
Both offenses combined to strand a mere four runners on base.
Game Two
Loras wins 3-2
BOX SCORE
The Spartans (6-12, 1-5 Iowa Conference) stranded 13 runners and scored their only two runs in the top of the sixth inning. The rally wasn't enough to overcome a 3-run first inning by the Duhawks (11-9, 6-4 Iowa Conference).
UD had its chances after leaving two men on base in the top of the ninth facing a 3-2 deficit. It was the theme of the game after UD stranded at least one runner in seven of their nine innings of offense. Twice the Spartans came up empty handed after leaving the bases loaded in the fourth and fifth innings.
The Spartan bats couldn't capitalize after finishing the game 3 of 20 with runners on.
Spartan starter and designated hitter Dalton Garst (3-1) settled in and pitched a solid six innings after an unfortunate opening stanza. Garst suffered his first loss of the year despite a quality start where he allowed a total of six hits while striking out three.
Garst, along with first basemen Austin McWhite, paced the Spartans offensively with two hits each.
UD dropped to 45-60 in the all-time series with Loras. The Spartans are 1-6 in their last seven meetings against the Duhawks and look to avenge today's results on Tuesday, April 21 at 1:00 p.m.
The Spartans look to get back on track as they face Central (7-10, 3-3 Iowa Conference) for a pair of doubleheaders starting on April 3 at 1:00 p.m that continues on April 4 at 1:00 p.m. The Dutch swept rival Simpson on the road, 1-0 and 2-1, in a doubleheader on March 31.
