WAVERLY, Iowa – Baseball got back into the win collum tonight with a 4-3 win at home over the University of Dubuque on Friday, Apr. 11. The Knights are now 14-11 overall and 8-6 in American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) play, while Dubuque moves to 12-13 overall and 4-7 in A-R-C play.
Game Summary
- First Inning
- With two outs, Zach Walton smacked a double to right field to set up an RBI single from Carter Stubitz to right field that gave Wartburg an early 1-0 lead
- Third Inning
- Andrew Robinson made a fantastic diving play at second base to rob a hit in the top of third
- The Knights added another run in the bottom half of the third after Will Armstrong doubled and then was brought home by an RBI from Walton
- Fifth Inning
- Dubuque's offense came alive in the fifth inning with six hits and three runs to take a 3-2 lead to the bottom half of the fifth
- Seventh Inning
- Following a single from Jayden Scott, Scott advanced to second on an error and then was brought home by an RBI single from Eliot Jurgensen
- Eighth Inning
- Stubitz led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a double and was eventually brought home for the go-ahead score by an RBI single from Caleb Andrews
- Wartburg led 4-3 headed to the ninth inning
- Ninth Inning
- Conner Funk took the mound for the Knights and shut the door on the Spartans to clinch a 4-3 win at home
Top Performers
Coach's Comments
"I have to start with our pitching staff tonight, they were phenomenal," said head coach
Casey Klunder following today's 4-3 win. "It started with Joey (Ciero) who had a great outing except one inning followed by scoreless innings from
Hunter Sehr,
Kyle Thompson and
Conner Funk. Really proud of the way they competed on the mound for us today."
"I think one of the biggest keys of today's game was how we responded to UD putting up three runs and taking the lead in the sixth inning," continued Klunder on what led Wartburg to victory today. "We knew that they would come back swinging after an early lead from us, so it was great to see us fight back and grind out a win that way."
"That's exactly what we need seniors to do in our lineup," said Klunder on Andrews providing the go-ahead RBI single. "He's had a great year for us so far and he continued that today with a huge at-bat for us late in this game."
Notes/Streaks
- Wartburg is now 5-2 at home this season
- With 5.1 innings pitched and six strikeouts today, Ciero is now ninth all-time in innings pitched and sixth all-time in strikeouts
- First win of the season on the mound for Kyle Thompson
- Stubitz (25) and Walton (23) continue to lead the team in RBI
- Second save of the season for Co. Funk
- 10th RBI of the season for Andrews
Next Time Out
The Knights will close the three-game series against Dubuque with a doubleheader tomorrow Saturday, Apr. 12 beginning at 1 p.m. at home.
