Box Score A non-conference contest against the University of Chicago Friday afternoon at Solfisburg Park was the order of the day for the Aurora University Spartans. After a rough start that found the Spartans down
6-1, AU rallied to win 14-7.
AU starting pitcher
Cory Walden struggled early in his first start at home of the season, allowing eight hits, three walks and six runs in an inning and two-thirds of work.
Chicago scored three runs in each of the first two innings with AU scoring one run in the bottom of the first. AU senior pitcher
Anthony Buonamici came on in relief and threw 4-2/3 innings of one run baseball. He did allow eight hits but limited the visitors from crossing the plate.
Meanwhile, the Spartan offense chipped away at the Chicago lead, scoring four times in the fourth inning. Junior
Ryan McMahon singled to start the inning and a walk and error loaded the bases for freshman
Tanner Oymaian. Oymaian blistered a single to center scoring two runs and advanced to
second on an error by the centerfielder. After a walk to senior
Bobby Wilson, senior
Josh Davidson grounded to second base, who forced Wilson at second but the quick footed Davidson beat the throw at first which also got away from the Chicago first baseman, allowing two runs to score, cutting the AU deficit to 6-5.
Chicago added a run in the seventh inning with a single and double giving Chicago runners at second and third with no outs against Buonamici. The next hitter lined a ball off the Spartan pitchers right arm, which Buonamici picked up and threw the runner out at first. The senior did have to depart the game though following the line drive.
After the AU pitching change, bring in freshman
Shawn Jacobson, the visitors executed a suicide
squeeze for the seventh run of the game.
AU responded immediately in the bottom of the inning though with two runs to tie the game. Wilson singled, Davidson beat out a bunt and
Tim Mackey walked to load the bases for
Ryan Adams. A sac fly by Adams scored Wilson with the sixth AU run. After Davidson was caught stealing, senior
Brett Van Asdlen hit a fly ball to right center field that was dropped by the Chicago centerfielder, allowing Mackey to score the tying run.
In the top of the eighth inning, Jacobson walked the lead-off hitter, bringing on junior pitcher
Tom Ozlanski. Ozlanski held the Maroons at bay, allowing one hit but no base runner past second to once again set up the AU offense.
A lead-off walk to junior Mike Foley and hit-by-pitch to senior
Ryan Payne had AU started quickly. With
one out, Wilson singled to load the bases for Davidson. Davidson blooped a double to left field that scored Foley and Payne giving AU their first lead of the game. Mackey then lined a single off the Chicago pitcher that was scooped up by the Maroon shortstop who over threw the catcher attempting to nab Wilson trying to score. The errant throw allowed Mackey to move to second base and Davidson to come around and score the 11th AU run. Mackey came around to score on a single by Adams and when Van Asdlen drew a walk, Chicago made another pitcher change but that did not slow down the AU offense.
A balk and two wild pitches, scored both Van Asdlen and Adams giving AU a seven run inning and 14-7 lead. Ozlanksi got a strikeout and induced a pretty 5-4-3 (Mackey to Oymaian to Van Asdlen) double-play that ended the game.
AU improved to 14-4 overall with the win and are in action again on Saturday,
April 7 when they travel to Lakeland College. Game time is set for noon in Sheboygan, Wis.
