Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The Aurora University softball team dropped a non-conference doubleheader at DePauw University, losing 4-3 and 7-2.

Game One
DePauw 4  Aurora 3

DePauw got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the first, scoring one run off AU starting pitcher Vanessa Hartzell.

The AU offense responded in support of Hartzell in the second inning though when freshman Mandey Schrader pinch hit for Rebecca Randall with two outs and two on. Schrader singled and after an error on the second baseman, pinch runner Natalia Szyller scored to tie the game.

After Hartzell set down DePauw in the second, AU took the lead in the third., Laura Dierking reached on an error by the right fielder and advanced all the way to third. She then scored on a fielder's choice by Stephanie Starr.

DePauw tied the game with an unearned run in the bottom of the third and then scored twice more in fourth to take a 4-2 lead.

Dierking pulled the Spartans closer in the fifth with a solo home run but that was the only scoring AU would see the rest of game one.

Game Two
DePauw 7  Aurora 2

In game two, the Spartan offense showed early signs of life as they loaded the bases in the second inning but could not manage to push across a run as DePauw got an inning ending strikeout to end the Spartan rally.

AU starting pitcher Natalie Zanella cruised through the first two innings, setting down DePauw in order in each inning.

The Spartan bats went back to work in the third and pushed across one run. Dierking walked and scored on an outfield error off the bat of Starr.

Zanella surrendered an unearned run in the bottom of the third but AU responded once again, pushing across one more run with a sacrifice flyout by Lisa Pena scored Andrea Graves who reached with a double.

DePauw scored twice in the bottom of the fourth to take a lead they would not relinquish. A walk, hit by pitch and out field error aided the rally. The home team added two runs in each the fifth and sixth inning for the eventual 7-2 AU loss.

AU is now 2-6 overall and next scheduled action for the Spartan softball team comes on Tuesday, March 25, 2014 when they travel to Hope College. Game one of the doubleheader is set for 2:00 p.m. in Holland, Mich.