Spartans Finish Off Series Sweep of Nebraska Wesleyan
Apr 22, 2017
Box Score Game 1 Box Score Game 2
LINCOLN, Neb. - The University of Dubuque baseball team stayed hot as they took down Nebraska Wesleyan 3-0 in game one of the doubleheader and 11-2 in game two to complete the three game series sweep and move to 12-3 in IIAC play to stay in first place.
Game one of the doubleheader was the second straight game against Nebraska Wesleyan that the Spartans could only manage six hits but once again, it was more than enough to produce a win. After two scoreless innings from both teams, Jacob Evans began the top of the third inning with a single down the right field line. After Ryan Karrick laid down a sac bunt to advance Evans to second, Jack Lasswell came up with a clutch two out single to right field to put the Spartans up 1-0.
The score remained 1-0 in favor of the Spartans until the sixth inning as UD added some insurance. Lasswell was once again involved in the rally, getting things started with a one out walk. Austin McWhite came up next and drilled his fourth home run of the season down the left field line to put the Spartans up 3-0.
Those three runs were all the Spartans needed as back to back IIAC Pitcher of the Week, Chase Kueter was dominant on the mound once again. Kueter cruised his way through all nine innings, scattering four hits across the game, striking out five in the process and walking no one.
UD’s bats got hot in game two, cranking out 13 hits and 11 runs to blowout the Prairie Wolves and complete the sweep. Nebraska Wesleyan took their first lead of the series on their first run of the series as they scratched one across in the bottom of the first inning. It was 1-0 in favor of Nebraska Wesleyan until the top of the third innings when the Spartans found a spark and scored four runs. In that four run inning, UD took advantage of two Nebraska Wesleyan errors and collected four hits.
The Spartans added on in both the sixth and seventh innings, plating two runs in both of those innings. In the sixth inning, Jacob Evans singled through the right side to bring home Kempf who reached on hit by pitch and Jarad Clevenger who reached on a single of his own. The Spartans blew the game even more open in the top of the ninth with three more runs on an RBI single from Thomas Kempf and two more from after Will Doherty double to left field.
The UD leadoff man, Michael Salazar set the tone for the offense, leading the way with three hits, one RBI and two runs scored of his own. The two through four hitters, Jack Lasswell, Austin McWhite and Thomas Kempf, each had two hits of their own and combined for five RBI’s.
UD’s starting pitching was outstanding in the first two games of the series and game three was no exception. Doug Van Dyke tossed eight great innings, allowing just two earned runs on five hits. Nick Sewruk came in the ninth to close things out for UD and completes the sweep. In the three game series, UD starters only allowed two earned runs, 14 hits while striking out 11 and did not walk a single Prairie Wolf.
UD will look to carry the momentum over to their weekday, IIAC doubleheader as they host Luther College. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 25th at Spartans Field.
