Saeugling homer pushes Dubuque past Ramblers

Aaron Saeugling's two-run homer in the top of the eighth broke a 1-1 tie and lifted Dubuque to a 3-1 win over Key West in the first round of the Cascade Tournament on Saturday night. Seeking their first-ever Cascade title, the Ramblers (24-8) were eliminated by a Blues team they had defeated in the first round of the Farley and Worthington tournaments this season.

Facing Dubuque hurler Mark Hennessey, Key West mustered just a single run when Chris Briggs doubled in Andrew Redman in the bottom of the fourth to knot the score. Hennessey and the Ramblers' Dan Spain then traded zeroes until Saeugling's game-winning blast.

Spain struggled with his control, issuing nine walks (three in the first inning). He worked out of nearly every jam while limiting Dubuque to five hits over an eight-inning complete game. He got a key strikeout in the first inning after walking the bases loaded to keep the Blues off the scoreboard. He was then one out away from maintaining a 1-1 tie in the eighth before Saeugling took him deep.

The Ramblers managed four hits off of Hennessey. They also missed out on a prime scoring chance in the first inning when Spain doubled and Andrew Redman was hit by a pitch with one out. Hennessey got Briggs and Tim Carty to fly out to end the frame.

Key West and Dubuque have already met six times this season. The Ramblers are 4-2 in those contests.

The Ramblers will return to action on Monday when they play at Dyersville at 7 p.m. Key West is 9-1 in EIHL play.