The Aurora University softball team defeated Alverno College in both games of the Northern Athletics Conference doubleheader Sunday afternoon at AU's Stuart Sports Complex.
The Spartans followed a 14-6 (6 inning) win in the first game with an 8-0 (5 inning) win in the second.
Game One
Aurora 14, Alverno 6
Offensive production was the theme for both teams in the first game with the Spartans knocking out 17 hits while Alverno managed 10 hits.
After Alverno posted one run in the top of the 1st the Spartans answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning. The runs for the Spartans came as a result of base hits by sophomore catcher Tristan Wilcox, junior first baseman Maggie Cooper, senior outfielder Shannon Starr and sophomore second baseman Brooke Spencer.
AU sophomore pitcher Allison Shimkus shut down Alverno in the top of the 2nd and set up the Spartan offense for a big inning in the bottom of the second. A number of hits for the Spartans capped by a three run home run by Starr propelled AU to a five run inning and a 7-1 lead.
Alverno answered with four runs in the 3rd and then added one more in the 5th cutting the Spartan lead to 7-6. The Spartans responded in the bottom of the 5th posting one run. Freshman infielder Sarah Clauser pinch hit and doubled to left field. The next hitter, Spencer drove a ball to right field which was dropped, leading to a three-base error and allowing Clauser to score.
In the bottom of the 6th, the Spartan offense awoke for six more runs on six consecutive hits to conclude the game due to the 8-run rule. Sophomore outfielder , setting up Spencer for some game ending dramatics. The sophomore second baseman promptly hit a towering home run to right center field ending game one.
Shimkus got the win with freshman pitcher Hope Webster throwing four innings and notching five strike outs in relief.
Offensive leaders for the Spartans were Starr (three for four with a home run, double, four runs batted in and two runs scored), Spencer (two for four with a home run, four runs batted in and one run score), Cooper (three for four with a home run, three runs batted in and three runs scored) and Wilcox (three for three with three runs scored)
Game Two
Aurora 8 Alverno 0
The Spartans took the momentum created in game one to defeat Alverno in five innings in the second game. AU had seven hits and forced three Inferno errors while limiting Alverno to just three hits in the contest.
Scoring for the Spartans began in the 1st with Wilcox reaching base on a walk. Cooper singled and with two outs freshman designated player Lillie Stone singled to score Wilcox. Cooper then scored on a single by Spencer giving the Spartans a 2-0 lead.
In the 3rd inning the Spartans manufactured a run for a 3-0 lead. Starr scored the run after reaching base on a error, moved to third on a base hit by Stone and scored on a sacrifice fly-out by Spencer.
Errors on the part of Alverno and great small ball execution by AU allowed the Spartans to score two runs in the 4th with just one hit, a bunt single by Clauser, which was originally intended to be a sacrifice bunt.
In the decisive 5th inning, Spencer led off with a double and scored on a defensive miscue once again by the Inferno. Kantner reached on the first miscue of the inning and scored when Clauser reached on the third error of the game for Alverno. Wilcox then doubled to left center, moving Clauser to third with two-outs. Cooper hit a grounder to the Inferno third baseman who threw late to home, allowing Clauser to score the eighth and final run of the game for the Spartans.
Junior pitcher Lindsay Decker earned the win with five shutout innings, allowing three hits and struck out six. Spencer and Stone led the Spartan offense with two hits each with Spencer also driving in two runs.
The sweep moves the Spartans record to 11-5 overall with an undefeated record of 4-0 in the NAC.
Next action for the Spartan softball team comes on Tuesday, April 5, 2011 when they host the University of Chicago. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m. at the Stuart Sports Complex in Aurora, Ill.
