Clarke College senior third baseman Michael Jimenez went 4-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored and four Crusader pitchers combined for 11 strikeouts and just one base-on-balls Monday in a 14-4, seven-inning win over the University of Dubuque at A.J. Spiegel Park in Peosta, Iowa. Clarke improved to 12-10 with the victory, while UD slipped to 7-10.

UD scored two runs in the top of the first off Clarke starter Sean O'Connor, but Coach Chad Harris' squad erupted for seven innings in the bottom of the inning. The Crusaders added one run inthe second, four in the third and two more in the fourth to build a 14-2 lead. The Spartans pushed two runs across the plate in the sixth.

J.D. went 3-for-3 at the plate for Clarke, while Jared Munson was 2-for-3 with a double and a triple and three runs scored.

Clarke reliever Chris Brewer registered five strikeouts and improved to 3-0.

Clarke outhit UD 17-9. Aaron Laskowski, Nathan Lucas and Todd Whited each had two hits for the Spartans.

Clarke will return to Midwest Collegiate Conference play on Wednesday when the Cruaders travel to La Crosse, Wis., to face Viterbo University in a 3 p.m. nine-inning game.

-CRUSADERS-