DUBUQUE, Iowa – The Wartburg softball team (13-7 overall, 2-0 IIAC) swept the University of Dubuque (8-12, 0-2) Saturday with the 11-1 victory (six innings) and 9-2 win.
The first game was scoreless until the Knights scored two runs in the second as junior Katie Sommer (Cedar Rapids) had a two-run double to left field.
In the top of the fourth, Wartburg made it 3-0 as sophomore Liz Roby Miklus (Ankeny) scored on classmate Kailee O'Brien's (Altoona) RBI single.
UD scored its only run in the third.
The Knights continued to add to their score with four more runs in the top of the fifth. Junior Kristie Sommer (Cedar Rapids) singled to right field and brought home classmate Mara Forsyth (Charles City) and Smola. Sophomore Brenna Gray (Waterloo) scored from third on an error by the catcher and Roby Miklus hit a single through the left side which drove in Kristie Sommer.
In the sixth and what became final inning for the Orange and Black, they plated four runs to take the 11-1 lead. Smola doubled down the left field line and brought in senior Kimberly Wedeking (Clarksville). Forsyth scored on Gray's groundout and Kristie Sommer drove in Smola. Sommer later scored on twin sister Katie's RBI single.
Dubuque was not able to score in the bottom of the frame which gave Wartburg the run-rule win.
Kristie went 3-4 with three runs and as many RBIs while Wedeking pitched the complete game.
In the second game, the Spartans took the early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning.
This remained the score until the top of the fifth when the Knights drove in three runs to take the 3-1 lead, which included a two-run double from O'Brien.The Orange and Black added two more in the top of the sixth to make it 5-1. Smola doubled down the left field line to bring in Forsyth and Kristie Sommer drove in pinch-runner junior Sarah Grabowski (Plainfield, Ill.) on her RBI double.
Dubuque plated its final run of the day in the sixth.
Wartburg tallied its final four runs in the seventh. Wedeking and O'Brien crossed the plate on Smola's double and Kristie Sommer drove in Smola and Forsyth on her two-run triple down the right field line.
The Spartans were unable to compile a rally to solidify the sweep.
Smola went 3-4 and Gray also earned the complete game victory.
The Knights return to the field Sunday when they host UW-Stout at 2 p.m.
