JACKSONVILLE, Ill. - The Elmhurst baseball team opened the 2015 season by dropping all three games of a weekend series against the University of Dubuque.

Elmhurst dropped both games of a doubleheader on Saturday, falling 2-1 in the season-opener and 12-2 in the nightcap. Dubuque finished the series sweep with a walk-off 3-2 win on Sunday afternoon.

DUBUQUE 2, ELMHURST 1 - Elmhurst dropped its season-opening contest 2-1 after managing just one run and four hits against Dubuque's Josh Eastman.

The Bluejays struck first in the contest, taking a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning. Brandon Kressner's RBI single drove home Greg Struck for the game's first run.

The Spartans answered back in the bottom of the frame, scoring the tying run on a delayed double steal of home by Gaetano Florio. The Spartans scored the game-winning run in the sixth. With two outs and the bases empty, a hit batter and back-to-back singles loaded the bases for the Spartans. Will Doherty scored what proved to be the game-winning run on a wild pitch.

Eastman tossed a complete game for Dubuque in the win. He allowed just four hits and one run while striking out six and walking none.,

Justin Theisen pitched well for Elmhurst but suffered the loss. He allowed two runs and four hits in 5.2 innings of work. He walked three while fanning seven. Ivan Neverez pitched 2.1 scoreless innings of relief for Elmhurst. He allowed just two hits while striking out five.

DUBUQUE 12, ELMHURST 2 - Dubuque exploded for 10 runs in the first three innings while cruising to the 12-2 victory in seven innings.
 

The Spartans sent all nine batters to the plate in the first inning, scoring three runs while leaving the bases loaded. Two innings later, Dubuque sent 10 batters to the plate and scored seven times, with Dalton Garst providing a three-run blast for the Spartans.

Elmhurst scored twice in the bottom of the third when Nick Cusumano blasted a two-run homer to put the Bluejays on the scoreboard.

Dubuque tacked on a pair of runs in the fourth and held Elmhurst scoreless for the remainder of the game to score the 10-run, seven-inning victory.

Elmhurst collected four hits in the loss while Dubuque pounded out 14 hits in the win. Trent Van Egtern earned the win for the Spartans, tossing five innings and allowing three runs and two hits. He walked one and struck out nine in the win. Ryan Millan suffered the loss for Elmhurst, working just two innings and allowing seven hits and seven runs while walking three and fanning one.

DUBUQUE 3, ELMHURST 2 - Dubuque finished the three-game series sweep with a walk-off one-run victory on Sunday.

Elmhurst fell behind 2-0 after the Spartans plated a run in the first and the third. Elmhurst sliced the lead in half in the fourth inning when Ben Havel doubled home Kressner. In the sixth, Struck delivered a two-out RBI single to even the score at 2-2.

Dubuque managed to load the bases with a hit batter and a pair of walks. Ryan Karrick drew a bases loaded walk to force home the winning run for the Spartans.

Elmhurst finished with six hits in the loss while Dubuque totaled just five. Havel accounted for half of Elmhurst's hits, finishing with three. A.J. Compton added two hits and also scored a run in the loss.

Jeff Guzzi made the start for Elmhurst and did not factor in the decision. He worked five innings, allowing just five hits and two earned runs. He walked one and struck out three. Havel took the loss in relief, pitching 3.1 innings and giving up one run. He walked three and struck out four.

Elmhurst travels to Chillicothe, Ohio next weekend for three contests.