Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The Aurora University softball team extended their win streak to 19 as they swept the Inferno of Alverno College 9-1 and 9-3 Monday afternoon at the Stuart Sports Complex.

Game One
Aurora  9
Alverno 1 (6 innings)

Alverno jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the third inning with a solo-home run off AU pitcher Natalie Zanella.
The run by the visitors seemed to awaken the Spartans bats as AU had back-to-back-to-back bunt base hits to load the bases with no outs in the bottom of the third. With one-out, junior Sarah Clauser walked and was followed by a Mia Henderson single to give AU the lead. A fielder's choice that resulted in an error and a ground-out scored two more runs, giving the Spartans a 4-1 lead.

Zanella set down the Inferno in the fourth to bring the suddenly hot Spartan bats back to the plate. Following the script from the third inning, Rebecca Randall and Stephanie Lynch led off with back-to-back bunt base hits and scored on a three-run home run by senior Tristan Wilcox. Clauser singled, stole second and advanced to third on a bunt base-hit by Henderson. Clauser would score on a
While Zanella made easy work of Alverno, AU ended the game early in the sixth inning when Clauser led off with a double and was followed by a Henderson single. The pair moved up on a sacrifice bunt and sophomore Alana Weitzenfeld drove in Clauser with the game ending run with a single to left.

With the win, Zanella improved her record to 15-0 on the season.

Game Two
Aurora  9
Alverno 3

As they did in game one, the visiting Inferno jumped out to a lead in the third inning. This time it was a 2-0 lead courtesy of a single and two doubles off AU starter Vanessa Hartzell.
The Spartans did not respond immediately in the bottom half of the third as they did in game one, putting the home crowd on edge.

The bottom of the fourth was a different story for the home team though. With one out, Clauser and Henderson singled with Stone and Weitzenfeld each doubling to tie the game 2-2. Pinch hitter Kristin Shaffer drove in Stone with an infield single and a 3-2 AU lead.

AU added to the lead in the fifth inning, scoring four more times on three hits and one Inferno error. Run scoring singles by Clauser, Henderson and Weitzenfeld (two rbi) gave AU a commanding 7-2 lead.

Two more runs would cross for the Spartans in the sixth inning who left two runners in scoring position, ending a chance for a second mercy rule conclusion. Randall and Wilcox scored the runs on a sac fly by Clauser and single by Henderson.

Alverno added one run off Hartzell in the seventh, who left the bases loaded. Hartzell earned the win to improve her record to 9-2 on the season.

With the sweep, AU is now 27-3 overall and 19-1 in the NAC. Next action for the Spartan softball team is scheduled for Wednesday, April 24 when they host University of Chicago. Game one is set for a 4:00 p.m. start at the Stuart Sports Complex in Montgomery, Ill.