Box Score The top-seeded Spartans of Aurora University extended their current season high win streak to 10-games with a 3-2 victory of the Eagles of Benedictine University in the 2012 Northern Athletics Conference Tournament.

With the win, AU will play for the 2012 NAC Tournament Championship on Saturday, May 11 at 1 p.m. at Marian University's Herr-Baker Field against the winner of the losers bracket game between Benedictine and Concordia University Chicago.

The Spartans got to tonight's game against Benedictine by defeating Dominican University (11-1 in 8 innings) and eliminating Rockford College (9-3) on Friday at the NAC Tournament.

In the win over Benedictine, the Spartans jumped out to an early lead by scoring three times in the bottom of the first inning. Senior Tim Mackey led the Spartans off with a single and scored two hitters later on a double by senior Ryan Adams. Adams the scored on a single by senior Brett Van Asdlen. After moving up to second on a wild pitch, Van Asdlen came around to score on a single by junior Mike Foley.

The three runs would prove to be enough for Spartan freshman pitcher Eric Palmer. Palmer pitched eight and one-third innings, allowing two runs, scattered nine hits and struck out eight Eagles for his team-leading eighth win of the season. Palmer is a perfect 8-0 in his freshman season.

Benedictine got on run in the sixth inning when Palmer walked the lead-off hitter who eventually came around to score. Then in the ninth inning, with one out he hit an Eagle hitter and was relieved after allowing a single. Junior closer Chris Skiniotes came on and after hitting the first batter he faced he got back-to-back ground outs for his seventh save of the season.

Van Asdlen finished the game four-for-four, while Foley and Adams each went two-for-four in the winning effort. The win improved AU's record to 35-8 on the season and one win away from the third consecutive berth in the NCAA Tournament and AU's 20th in baseball program history.