Spartans take game one of baseball series against Dutch

PELLA — In a back-and-forth affair, the University of Dubuque finished on top in a 5-4 win against the Central College baseball team Friday.

Central drops to 11-12 (2-12 American Rivers Conference) while Dubuque improved to 15-11 (7-7 conference).

Starting pitcher Declan O’Hare (junior, Los Angeles, Calif. John Marshall HS) scattered eight hits over six innings and held the Spartans to one run, which came in the first inning. Parker Jones (sophomore, Verona, Wis., Verona Area HS) takes the loss after allowing a pair of runs in the eighth inning.

“Declan was great again today,” coach Casey Klunder said. “He had that changeup working the second and third time through their lineup and that’s when he is at his best throwing all of his pitches around the zone.”

Two swings of the bat were responsible for three of Central’s runs. Freshman catcher Dom DeLaPaz (Davenport, West HS) hit a solo home run in the sixth inning and right fielder Colton DeRocher (sophomore, Sioux City, East HS) added a two-run shot in the seventh inning.

“Both of them are really hot,” Klunder said. “Dom is coming into his own as a college hitter and it seems like Colton never cools down. They’ve both been working really hard.”

Garrett Finley (junior, first baseman, DeWitt, Central DeWitt HS) had the RBI on Central’s first run, drawing a bases loaded walk in the third thinning. Left fielder Ian Boline (senior, Alburnett) also had two hits.

Three Central innings were stifled by double plays.

“They made some nice plays,” Klunder said. “We’ve got to be willing to us the whole field more. The more we try to pull the ball the more susceptible we are to the ground ball double play.”

The Dutch and the Spartans meet for two more games tomorrow starting at noon.

“I hope we come out with some more focus and energy tomorrow,” Klunder said. “I do think we have a shot to play well and see what happens.”