Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3 | Box Score 4 The Aurora University baseball team opened the season with the Russmatt Central Florida Invitational in Florida over spring break. The Spartans came back from the trip with a record of 2-8.

The Spartans defeated Capital University (8-5) and Iowa Wesleyan College (8-3) but fell to St. John Fisher College, St. Joseph's College (Maine), Coe College twice, Gwynedd Mercy University, Mt. Union twice and Webster University.

Leading the way for the Spartan offense was sophomore Dillon Popovich. Popovich finished the trip with a .394 batting average, five doubles, seven runs batted in and five runs scored. Senior Jared Swain and sophomore Nick Turner also hit well for the Spartans. Swain had a .313 batting average two doubles, four runs batted in and three runs scored, while Turner had a .357 batting average with four runs scored and went eight-of-nine in stolen bases.

Spartan pitchers who picked up a win in Florida were senior Jared Steck and freshman Ottavio Dattolo. Steck fnished with a record of 1-1 and a 6.10 earned run average over 10-1/3 innings and Dattolo finished with a record of 1-0 and a 6.52 earned run average in 9-2/3 innings.

Next action for the Spartan baseball team comes on Friday, March 14 when they travel to MacMurray College. Game time is set for 4:00 p.m. in Jacksonville, Ill.