Spartans Win 8-1 on the Final Day of the Regular Season
May 3, 2014 | J.Crane
DECORAH, IOWA - The University of Dubuque Baseball team closed out the 2014 season with a split vs. Luther on Saturday afternoon. The Spartans won the opener 8-1 before being defeated 12-0 in the final game of the season. Dalton Garst (Winnebago, Ill./Winnebago) did it all in the opener, allowing only three hits in six innings with no earned runs to earn the win on the mound while also picking up two hits at the plate. UD increased its win total from 2013 by three games with a 14-26 overall record. Dubuque tied with Luther for seventh in the Iowa Conference at 9-19.
Senior Vince Parisi (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) reached base in all seven of his plate apperances including game two where he reached three times after being hit by pitches. He also had a home run, single, and two walks in the opener. A four-year starter behind the dish, Parisi played in 144 career games in the Blue and White, the eighth most in school history. He also leaves UD with the second most career hit by pitches (20) and putouts (705).
| Score by Innings | - Game 1 - | R | H | E | |||||||
| Spartans | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 8 | 10 | 2 |
| Luther | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| WIN: D.Garst (3-3) LOSS: M.McKinney (1-5) | |||||||||||
| BOX SCORE | |||||||||||
The Spartans came out ready to play in the opener jumping on Luther early and often with one run in the first, four in third and three in the fourth to take an 8-0 lead. Garst, Parisi, and Austn McWhite (Orlando, Fla./Wekiva) all had two hits in the game with McWhite and Parisi each having two RBI. Garst was sharp on the mound, allowing only three hits and no walks in six innings pitched.
UD scored an unearned run in the first with Daniel Casanova (Lake Tapps, Wash./Auburn Riverside) and his speed playing a major role. Casanova led off the the inning by reaching on a error and stole second to get into scoring position. A single by Parisi put runners on first and third for McWhite who singled to center field for a 1-0 lead.
After a 1-2-3 second inning, the Spartans exploded for four runs on five hits in the top of the third with all four runs scoring with two outs. Will Fogel (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake South) began the rally with a single and stole second to get into scoring position. After a Parisi walk, McWhite once again capitalized with a RBI single to score Fogel. Garst and Ryan Karrick (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett) hit back-to-back singles before a bases clearing double by Jacob Evans (Normal, Ill./Normal West) put UD ahead 5-0 after three.
The Spartans were right back at it in the fourth with three runs on three hits. The big play of the inning came after a Luther pitching change, Parisi welcomed the new reliever by hitting a two-run home run to left field. UD scored its first run of the inning on a bunt by Fogel that was misplayed by the Luther pitcher allowing Gaetano Florio (Youngtown, Ariz./Willow Canyon) to score.
Senior Joey Kilsdonk (Appleton, Wis./Kimberly) pitched a scoreless bottom of the seventh to end the game. All three outs in the inning were fly outs to Casanova in center field.
| Score by Innings | - Game 2 - | R | H | E | |||||||
| Spartans | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 4 | 5 |
| Luther | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | X | - | 12 | 11 | 0 |
| WIN: Peterson (3-3) LOSS: R.Stumpf (1-5) | |||||||||||
| BOX SCORE | |||||||||||
Game two of the doubleheader and the fourth game of the weekend series was all Luther as UD allowed 11 hits and comitted five errros in the 12-0 loss that ended after seven innings. Of the 12 runs scored by the Norse, only three were credited as earned for Spartans pitchers. Parisi reached base all three at bats in the game via hit by pitches.
Casanova reached twice in the game with a single and walk. Florio, Fogel, and Steve Ryan (Loveland, Colo./Mountain View) all had one hit.
Reed Stumpf (Dubuque, Iowa/Hempstead) was the losing pitcher in the game, allowing five runs (two earned) on three hits in two innings pitched. UD and Luther pitchers combined for a total of six hit batters in the game.
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