WAVERLY, Iowa-- The Wartburg softball team (16-22 overall, 6-6 IIAC) swept Dubuque (8-28, 1-10) in shutout fashion 6-0 and 4-0 Tuesday. This marked the first back-to-back shutouts for the Knights since April 11, 2009. With the wins, Wartburg also qualified for the Iowa Conference Tournament next weekend for the first time since 2009.

WARTBURG vs. DUBUQUE HIGHLIGHTS


The first game was scoreless until the fourth inning when the Orange and Black plated four thanks in part to a two-run double from sophomore Kristie Sommer (Cedar Rapids). Freshman Liz Roby Miklus (Ankeny) drove in classmate Kailee O'Brien (Altoona) and Sommer and Roby Miklus pulled off a double steal as Sommer stole home.

Wartburg scored its final two runs of the game in the sixth on a fielding error. The Spartans looked to compile a rally in the seventh as they had bases loaded with one out. The next two batters flew out to end the game.

Junior Kimberly Wedeking (Clarksville) pitched the complete game and O'Brien went 2-3.

The finale was scoreless until the fifth inning as O'Brien scored on sophomore Katie Sommer (Cedar Rapids) sacrifice fly, Kristie Sommer scored on classmate Erica Countryman's (Plainfield, Ill.) single to centerfield and classmate Mara Forsyth (Charles City) slugged a two-run home run over the centerfield fence to take the 4-0 lead.

Defensively, the Knights did not allow a baserunner past first for the duration of the game.

Sophomore Emily Carroll (Marble Rock) pitched the complete game and Kr. Sommer went 2-3.

The Orange and Black conclude the regular season Saturday in Pella against Central.