DUBUQUE, Iowa - A pair of one-run margins was all that separated Ashford University's baseball team from picking up its first conference win on Wednesday as the Saints were edged by Clarke College, 3-2 and 6-5. The Saints moved to 0-5 in Midwest Collegiate Conference play, now standing at 5-12 overall on the year.

Clarke produced three runs in the second inning of the first game, plating two on a two-run triple by Jared Krasselt.

Ashford was able to chip away at the Crusaders' lead and cash in two runs in the fourth inning, as senior Jake Steve got on a base with a two-out double, his fifth of the year. Freshman catcher Cameron Puetz and sophomore Anthony Misitano followed with back-to-back RBI singles to trim the deficit to one.

Saints' freshman Elliot Swiatly represented the tying run by reaching second base in the fifth and seventh innings on a single (later advancing on a sacrifice bunt) and a double. Clarke winner Kirk Garrison (2-1) was able to escape the jam on both occasions, stranding Swiatly on second to end the game as he retired AU pinch hitter Shawn Aubin on strikes.

Garrison struck out 13 hitters, yielding Ashford's two runs on six hits while walking none.

Ashford starter J.D. Fabian (1-2) worked six effective innings in a complete-game effort, allowing three runs on eight hits while striking out two.

In the second game, Ashford made the first move, scoring five runs in the second inning to grab a 5-2 lead.

Swiatly brought home Jake Peters on a sacrifice fly for Ashford's first run. After a Tyler Sukut single, Scott Schmitt reaching after being hit by a pitch, and an Austin Poindexter walk, it set the stage for Misitano to unload the base paths.

Misitano cleared the bases to score Sukut, Schmitt and Poindexter on a two-out, three-run triple and senior Brian Cummings brought home Misitano with his team-leading 11th RBI of the year on a single.

Hunter Allspaugh (0-2) was tagged with the loss, charged with three earned runs in 3 1/3 innings of work.

Returning to the lineup was junior leadoff hitter Jordan Wakeley. Wakeley had missed the three previous games recovering from an injury suffered against Hannibal-LaGrange last week.

Ashford and Clarke meet again this afternoon to continue conference play for one nine-inning game at Camanche Field. A start time has been set for 3 p.m.