UD's Bats Get Hot to Split With #4 Concordia Chicago
Apr 10, 2018
Game One Box Score Game Two Box Score
DUBUQUE, Iowa – The University of Dubuque baseball team used a big seventh and eighth inning in game two of Tuesday’s doubleheader to earn a split with #4 Concordia-Chicago. Concordia took game one 8-6, with the UD taking game two 16-5 in eight innings.
Game One
Score by Innings R H E
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Concorida-Chicago... 111 500 000 - 8 8 0
Dubuque, Univ. of... 100 000 212 - 6 7 2
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WP: Musielak LP: Carlson, Tyler (2-1)
Concordia-Chicago got on the board in the top of the first with a solo home run. UD did not even have to put the ball in play in the bottom half of the inning to get that run back as Concordia walked four batters. However, UD would leave the bases loaded without getting another run across. Concordia would score one run in both the second and third innings before blowing the game open in the fourth with five runs to put UD in a 8-1 deficit.
The Spartans took advantage of a one out walk in the bottom of the seventh. After JJ Valencia walked, Will Doherty drilled a two-run home run to left field. UD got one more run in the eighth inning when Dalton Garst homered to left field to get the Spartans within striking distance heading into the ninth. In the bottom on the ninth, Justin Jensen joined the home run parade and hit a leadoff homerun to cut the deficit to 8-5. Valenica followed the home run up with a triple to left center after the center fielder tripped and fell chasing the ball. Valencia came around to score when Will Doherty flied out to right field make it 8-6 but the Spartans comeback bid would stop there.
Game Two
Score by Innings R H E
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Concorida-Chicago... 000 004 10 - 5 8 2
Dubuque, Univ. of... 000 030 67 - 16 13 2
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WP: Barkema, Gavin (1-0) LP: Schmitt
A wild bottom of the fifth inning got the scoring started in game two after 4.5 innings of scoreless baseball. In the bottom of the fifth, the Spartans plated three runs without one hit. JJ Valencia began the rally after getting hit by a pitch and Luke Carroll followed that up with a walk. The following batter, Nasir Ricks reached on a throwing error by the third basemen, allowing Valencia to score and Carroll and Ricks to reach second and third. The Spartans played small ball for the second run when Jack Lasswell got a bunt down on a suicide squeeze to make it 2-0. UD capped off the rally when Ricks scored on a wild pitch with two outs in the inning.
Concordia grabbed the lead the next half inning when the Cougars drilled a two-out, three run home run. The Cougars would tack on one more run in the top of the seventh to go up 5-3 before the Spartans began their rally. UD would bat around in both the seventh and eighth innings to put the 10 run rule into effect. Justin Jensen, who was starting just his second game of the season, began the seventh with a single to left field. After a fielder’s choice that resulted in everyone being safe and a bunt single, Thomas Kempf came off the bench to clear the bases when he split the left center gap for a three-RBI double and to give UD the lead once again. Tyler Lewan would bring in the fourth run of the inning on a sacrifice fly to center field and Will Doherty capped the big inning with a single to left to score two runs. UD put the 10 run rule to use in the bottom of the eighth after scoring seven more runs and six hits.
The Spartans were held to just three hits in the first six innings before having 10 in the final two. Kellen Mitchell went 3-for-4 at the plate with a walk, one RBI and two runs scored. Will Doherty, Justin Jenson and Luke Carroll each added two hits for UD. Doherty would add three RBI’s to go along with his two hits.
Michael Hoffman got the start on the mound and pitched five scoreless innings before giving up all four of his runs in the sixth inning. Gavin Barkema would pick up with win after coming in to relieve Hoffman. Barkema would throw the final 2 1/3, giving up one run on just two hits.
The Spartans are scheduled to play at Simpson College on Friday afternoon but the game may be moved up to Thursday because of impending weather. Please stay tuned for updates.
