Spartans Drop Close Games at Central
Apr 6, 2013 | J.Crane
PELLA, IOWA – The University of Dubuque Baseball team continued their trend of playing lose games this season again on Saturday afternoon. In Game 1, a 7-Inning contest, UD led going into the bottom of the sixth before giving up three runs and falling 5-3 to Central (12-5, 4-2). The Spartans were in another tight game in Game 2 as they lost 4-3 with the Dutch scoring the winning run in the eighth inning. Dubuque is now 3-13 overall and 1-7 in the Iowa Conference. Ten of the Spartans 13 loses have come by two runs or less.
Game 1: UD-3, Central-5 BOX SCORE
The Spartans jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first game of the doubleheader with a two out RBI double by Chris Briggs (Lombard, Ill./Montini). Scoring on the play was Andrew Danna (Antioch, Ill./Antioch), who singled and stole second before scoring on the Briggs hit. Dubuque took a 2-0 lead in the third on a Jordan Gawronski (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago) single that scored Kyle Duggan (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Linn-Mar).
UD played small ball to push across the third run of the game after Vince Parisi (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) reached on a Central error. Parisi advanced to second on a Brock Grubbs (Bondurant, Iowa/Bondurant-Farrar) sac bunt and to third on a single by Nick Martin (Orland Hills, Ill./Andrew). With runners on the corner, Duggan put down the second bunt of the inning for the Spartans to score Parisi to go ahead 3-0 in the fourth inning.
Leading 3-0 through three and a half innings, Central finally figured out Spartan starter Spencer Kuehn (Dana Point, Calif./Dana Hills) in the fourth. Central took advantage of three walks before hitting a bases loaded double to make it 3-2 Spartans after four complete. The Dutch scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth on three hits and one UD error. Kuehn took the loss on the mound for UD.
Despite the loss, UD outhit Central 8-5 with Danna leading the way with three hits including a double. Gawronski recorded his fifth multi-hit game of the season with two singles.
Game 2: UD-3, Central-4 BOX SCORE
The final game of the four game series would end in an all too familiar fashion with UD coming up short in a one run game. The 4-3 loss would leave the Spartans with a 1-7 record in one run games. Gawronski led the Spartans at the plate reaching base three times with a single, double, and base on balls.
Trailing 1-0, Dubuque tied the game in the fourth with a RBI single by Parisi to bring home Kuehn. Kuehn started the inning with a double to left field. The Spartans would take a 2-1 lead in the fifth as Aaron Laskowski (Edgerton, Wis./Edgerton) led off the inning with a single to center and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Noah Mahlik (Green Bay, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran). With two outs in the innings, Gawronski singled up the middle to score Laskowski.
UD would answer in the top of the seventh inning after Central tied the game in the bottom of the sixth. The Spartan seventh started with singles by Mahlik and Danna. Mahlik would put UD ahead by scoring on a Central wild pitch. Central would once again tie the game in the bottom of the seventh and take the lead in the eighth. The losing pitcher in game two was Joey Kilsdonk ().
The Spartans outhit Central 8-5 in the game and 16-10 on the day.
UP NEXT: UD will play IIAC leading Loras (6-0, 12-4) on Tuesday, April 9th at 3:30. The game will be played at Petrakis Field within the McAleece Sports Complex (1801 Admiral Sheehy Drive).
