WAVERLY, Iowa - During the American Rivers Conference series finale versus the University of Dubuque on Sunday, March 21 at Lynes Field, the No. 14-ranked Wartburg College softball team fell 8-7 against the Spartans. 

Dubuque improved its overall record to 7-2 as the Knights fell to 10-3 overall. After a split on Saturday, UD prevailed during game three to take the series victory. 

Down 8-2 after five innings, Wartburg's rally in the final two innings came up short. The Orange & Black scored seven runs off seven hits and five Spartan errors. A five-run fifth inning for the visitors ended up being the difference in the Spartan triumph.

Tarah Wehde started in the pitcher's circle for the Knights, suffering her first loss of the season. Wehde pitched 3.1 innings and was relieved by Lauren Reicks and Ashley Nelson. Nelson pitched the final 2.2 innings and didn't allow a Spartan base hit.

Each team pushed across a pair of runs in the second inning, with Wartburg runs batted in coming from Madison Stoaks and Sydney Illg to tie the game at 2-2. 

UD added a run in the fourth and broke out in the fifth frame. The Spartans forced Wartburg starting pitcher Tarah Wehde out of the game and scored five runs off Reicks to claim an 8-2 advantage. 

Jordan Swiatskowski hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning to spark some life back into the Knights' offense and trim to UD lead to 8-5. During its final chance for a comeback in the seventh, Wartburg put runners into scoring position with one out. Olivia Brecht scored Lauren Frerichs on a RBI fielder's choice and Reegan Deputy scored on a Spartan error. However, UD got out of the jam, picking off a Wartburg runner and forcing a fly out. 

Up next, Wartburg (10-3, 1-2 A-R-C) returns to action at home March 27-28 versus Simpson College.