Box Score Coming off an off day, the Aurora University baseball team dropped a 3-2 decision to Bridgewater College Wednesday in Auburndale, Fla.
Like the Spartans, Bridgewater, received votes in the most recent d3baseball.com/NCBWA Top 25 poll, making for a nice early season match-up for the Spartans.
The AU offense was not able to get much going against Bridgewater pitcher John Bayse early in the contest, while Bridgewater was able to get a run in the first inning off Spartan pitcher Kevin Day.
Both pitchers had an easy time of it over the next four innings until Bridgewater was able to add to their lead with two more runs in the top of the sixth inning. The visitors got the two runs off of two Spartan errors and three hits that made the miscues hurt for AU.
The Spartans finally got to Bayse and Bridgewater in the bottom of the eighth inning. AU put their run together with two outs. Tim Mackey and Ryan Adams singled in consecutive at bats with one out. After a strikeout, Cory Walden singled in Mackey for the Spartans first run of the game. Mike Foley then walked to load the bases and pinch hitter Ryan McMahon walked in a run to cut the Bridgewater lead to 3-2.
Bridgewater went to the bullpen for the second time in the inning and Eagle pitcher Rober Gallet then entered the game and retired Tanner Oymaian to preserve the 3-2 lead.
AU's Tom Ozlanski came on and worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning setting up the Spartan offense for the come back attempt in the bottom half of the inning.
But Gallet was able to put down the Spartan hitters in order earn the save for Bridgewater
With the 3-2 loss, AU is now 4-2 on the spring trip and will take on play tomorrow, Thursday, March 8, against St. John Fisher in Florida at 2:30 p.m. (est).
