Late Runs Doom Spartans
Mar 27, 2018
ROCKFORD, Ill. – The University of Dubuque baseball team jumped out to an early 6-1 lead but fell on the road to Rockford University, 7-6.
After surrendering a run in the bottom of the first inning, UD responded in the top of the second. The first three batters of the inning all walked before Jarad Clevenger shot a ball into the right center gap to score two runs. With runners still on second and third, Tyler Imrich delivered a single to left field to plate another run. Cody Kramschuster finished off the UD with a sac fly out to left field to score Clevenger and give UD a 4-1 lead.
Dalton Garst and Jack Lasswell both reached base with one out walks in the top of the fifth. UD played small ball to tack on another run as Tyler Lewan stole second base, Dalton Garst stole home at the same time. The Spartans took advantage of a Regent mistake in the sixth inning. Gabriel Panza reached and advanced to second on a fielding error before scoring on a safety squeeze by Tyler Imrich for his second RBI of the game, giving UD a 6-1 lead.
However, Rockford would not go quietly. In the bottom half of the seventh inning, the Regents would score four runs on four hits and one UD error, but stranded the tying and go ahead run when relief pitcher Michael Hoffman would get a groundout to second base to end the rally.
In the bottom of the eighth, Rockford evened up the score on a sac fly to right field after the first two batters reached on consecutive hits. The Regents would grab the lead later in the inning when UD catcher, Gabriel Panza, tried to pick a runner off at first base but sailed the throw and allowed the runner on second to score. UD would put one runner on in the top of the ninth but could not bring him around to score. After playing error free baseball in the three game sweep over Central, UD commited three errors this afternoon.
The Spartans get back into IIAC play this weekend as they host Coe College (8-6, 3-0 IIAC) on Friday at 3:00 p.m.
