WAVERLY, Iowa – The Wartburg College baseball team (3-10 overall, 1-1 A-R-C) split their Saturday games, losing to the University of Dubuque Spartans (6-2-1, 1-1) 3-2 in game one, but winning 5-3 in game two.
In game one, the Knights scored first at the bottom of the first inning off of a single to left field from junior outfielder
Tyler Nunemaker (Ely) that brought home sophomore outfielder
JoJo McNair (Joliet, Ill.). The 1-0 Wartburg lead didn't last long, as the Spartans responded with a two-run second inning to take the 2-1 lead.
Dubuque pushed their lead to 3-1 after scoring at the top of the ninth. In the bottom of the ninth, freshman
Jarod Harris (Manchester) singled to left to start the inning. Junior
Manny Jeffery (Marion) struck out swinging before Nunemaker singled to right to advance Harris to second.
Freshman
Ben DeKruyf (Urbandale) came in to pinch hit with two outs on the board and responded with a RBI single to right that scored Harris and advanced Nunemaker to third. Sophomore
Parker Ridge (Marion) had an opportunity to tie the game with his final at-bat, but struck out swinging as the Knights dropped their first conference game of the year, 3-2.
In game two, Wartburg again was the team to strike first as Nunemaker recorded his second RBI on the day and first of the game after connecting on a single to right that scored McNair. The Orange and Black maintained their 1-0 lead until the top of the third, where Dubuque added two runs to take the 2-1 advantage.
Wartburg responded back with a two-run third inning of their own, highlighted by RBI singles from
Andrew Walker (Eagan, Minn.) and Ridge to lead 3-2. The Spartans answered the Wartburg inning with a score at the top of the fourth to tie things up at 3-3.
At the bottom of the seventh, Nunemaker doubled to left, followed by a single from Hovick that advanced Nunemaker to third. On the ensuing pitch, Hovick stole second to put two runners in scoring position. Walker struck out swinging on the next at-bat at the same time that Nunemaker was stealing home, allowing Hovick to steal third and putting the Knights back in front, 4-3.
Freshman
Bryce Butler (Mason City) was the final batter for the Orange and Black in the bottom of the eighth. During his at bat, Dubuque pitcher Derek Hardin threw a wild pitch that allowed for Hovick to advance home and give the Knights a 5-3 lead. Freshman
Aaron Eybers (Sioux City) struck out two at the top of the ninth to secure the victory.
Wartburg will return to the diamond tomorrow to complete the series against the Spartans. The game is scheduled for a 5 p.m. start.
