Spartans Fall to Rams in Extra Innings
Apr 13, 2017
DUBUQUE, Iowa- The University of Dubuque softball team stepped out of conference play to take on the former IIAC member, the Cornell College Rams, losing 3-6 in eight innings.
The Spartans busted out of the gates in the first inning, putting up a three spot on the Rams. Leadoff hitter, Nicole Blum started the inning with a single right back up the middle. After a walk and sacrifice bunt, Courtney Markin made contact and the pitcher threw the ball past the first baseman, scoring two runs. Taylor Allard followed that up with a double to plate Markin and take a 3-0 lead out of the first inning. However these were the only runs that the Spartans could manage across for the rest of the game.
Cornell bounced back in the top of the second inning, scoring two runs of their own on one hit and two costly UD errors. The Rams would eventually tie the game up in the 4th inning on a bunt single.
UD had their chances to grab the lead in both the sixth and seventh innings but could not take advantage. In the sixth, the Spartans would load the bases with one out, but the Rams got a strikeout and ground out to escape out of the situation. In the seventh, UD would once again place a runner in scoring position with only one out and the Rams were once again able to get out of the innings without giving up any runs, this time on a batters interference and an infield pop out to send the game into extra innings.
The Rams found their bats in the top half of the eighth, plating three runs on four hits to go up on top, 6-3. UD came up with one hit in the bottom of the inning but could not piece together anything to else.
Nikki Blum, Courtney Markin and Taylor Allard all had two hits each for the Spartans, coming up with six of the 10 Spartans hits. Mackenzie Kyle took the loss after she threw 7.1 good innings for UD, giving up six runs, but only three of those runs were earned, on only six hits. Taylor Blair came in for relief and shut down the Rams in 2/3 innings.
UD will travel to Decorah on Saturday to take on #4 Luther College at 1:00 p.m.
