Missed Opportunities and Norse Hitting Doom Spartans
Apr 18, 2015
DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque baseball team dropped their final two games against Luther, 10-1 and 10-3, after stranding a total of 25 runners and surrendering 30 hits on Saturday afternoon.
Game One
Spartans fall 10-1
BOX SCORE
The Spartans struggled to bring runners home after stranding at least one runner in every inning and 15 overall. UD (11-19, 6-12 IIAC) faced a 4-1 deficit through three innings after leaving the bases loaded in the first and third. The Norse (16-14, 11-7 IIAC) continued to pull away before capping the scoring with an RBI-single in the top of the seventh.
UD's offense had no trouble producing after racking up 11 hits, but couldn't find the seam with runners on. The Spartans three leadoff hitters, C James Workman, 3B/1B Dalton Garst, and CF Daniel Casanova joined 8-hole hitter, LF Michael Riordan, in compiling two hits a piece. Workman scored the team's lone run as Casanova grounded into double play.
Spartan starter Tyler Trifiletti (1-2) suffered the loss after surrendering six runs (four earned) and six hits in 3.2 innings of work.
The Norse bats picked up 10 hits on the game and took advantage of seven Spartan walks in the victory.
Game Two
Spartans fall 10-3
BOX SCORE
Missed opportunities and some hot hitting by the Norse hurt the Spartans once again in game two. UD stranded at least one runner in seven of the nine innings and 10 overall while Luther compiled 20 hits.
UD scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth thanks to DH Michael Salazar's score off a passed ball and 2B Gaetano Florio's RBI-single up the right side. The pair of scores cut the Luther lead to 6-3, but would conclude the scoring for UD.
On the flip side, Luther collected hits from every position. The 3-4-5-6 hitters for the Norse finished a collective 10-for-20 with seven runs and six RBIs. The Luther bats kicked in when needed as they collected numerous hits in two-out situations.
The Spartans countered the Norse after 2-3-4 hitters, P Garst, CF Casanova, and LF Michael Salazar, who produced six of UD's 10 hits. Rightfielder Jacob Evans and 2B Florio earned UD's only RBIs.
Spartan starter Garst (3-2) took the loss after allowing six runs (four earned) and 11 hits in 5.0 innings of work. Luther starter Nate Beckman (3-2) earned the win after giving up three earned runs and 10 hits in his second complete game of the year.
UD dropped to 40-82 all-time against Luther and have dropped their last five meetings in the series.
Stuck in a six-game slump, the Spartans look to right the ship vs. rival Loras (15-14, 9-9) this Tuesday, April 21 at 1:00 p.m. The Duhawks finished 1-3 at Wartburg this weekend.
