WAVERLY, Iowa – Keaton Gray's walk-off single gave the Knights the regular season series advantage over the University of Dubuque after winning 5-4 at home on Sunday, Apr. 10.
Game Summary
After a leadoff single to start the game, the Knights got out of the inning when a line drive to
Bryce Butler led to a double play. The Orange & Black got just one hit in the first inning but were able to score in the second after a Gray single up the middle brought home
Caleb Andrews.
Dubuque started the third inning with a double but were put down in order the next three batters. The Knights added to their 1-0 lead n the bottom of the inning after Andrews reached on an error that scored one run. The next batter, Gray singled again up the middle for his second RBI of the contest to make the score 3-0 after three innings.
In the bottom of the fifth,
Zach Walton homered to straight away center field to give Wartburg a 4-0 lead. After a scoreless sixth from both sides the Spartans mounted a big inning in the seventh and tied the game up after three doubles in the half inning. Knights starter
Dreyton LaVeine was replaced by
Cael Boehmer on the mound in the seventh.
Neither team could pull away in the final innings and the game was still 4-4 heading into the ninth inning. In the top half, UD had a runner on second with no outs before
Aaron Eybers was brought in on the mound to escape the jam. The senior closer was able to get two outs and then escape the inning after a wonderful defensive play by Andrews at second.
Max Goodhue started the bottom of the ninth with a leadoff double to left field and two batters later the bases were loaded with no outs. Dubuque got one out before Gray once again singled to center field to give the Knights the 5-4 win.
Goodhue finished the game 4/5 at the plate and scored two runs for the Orange & Black. His clutch ninth inning double was one of two extra-base hits for the Knights today. The senior is now batting .412 through 25 games played.
Walton's fifth-inning blast was his seventh homerun and 40
th RBI of the season. Gray finished the contest with a team-high three RBI from three singles to center.
LaVeine pitched 6.1 innings and struck out four batters in his no-decision start today. Eybers pitched just one inning and earned the win on the mound to move to a 2-1 record. The senior allowed no hits in the ninth and helped escape early trouble in the inning.
Next Time Out
The Orange & Black will be in action for the third-straight day on Monday, Apr. 11 as they close the season series with Luther College at home at 6 p.m.
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