Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference opener finally occurred for the Aurora University baseball team, although the location was an abnormal one. AU and Marian played at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wis. with the teams splitting the doubleheader as AU won game one 7-6 in 10 innings and Marian won game two 8-4.

Game One
Aurora 7 Marian University 6 (10 innings)

Junior pitcher Colin Hart did not earn a decision as the starting pitcher as he scattered five hits, walking three and striking out two. Hart went scoreless until the fifth inning when the Sabres scored two off two singles.

Offensively, AU got on the board in the sixth inning when Dillon Popovich singled to right field scoring Tanner Oymaian who reached on a single. They kept the momentum going when Jared Swain had an RBI to score Zach Flores who reached on an error. The final score of the inning would be off of a RBI single from Jake Monson who would score Popovich for a 3-2 lead.

In the top of the seventh, the Sabres scored off of a single to tie the game. Henry Erickson came in to relieve Hart with the bases loaded. The Sabres would grab two more to bring the score to 5-3 Marian at the end of the 7th.

AU closed the cap in the bottom of the eighth when Flores reached on a single and would be brought home by a single from Popovich. At the end of the eighth, AU was down by one, 5-4, with one more chance at bat.

The Sabres would add a run in the top of the ninth to bring their lead back to two at 6-4.

With one last chance at bat, Oymaian led off with a walk. Danny Walzcak singled advancing Oymaian to third. Flores would then drill a ball to deep center field to bring home Oymaian on a sacrifice fly out. Walzcak advanced to second on a wild pitch to bring up pinch hitter Rafer Cooley. Cooley came through with a double to deep left field scoring Walzcak and tying the game.

Junior Cody Love came in to pitch in the 10th inning and would go three up and three down.

In the bottom of the 10th, sophomore Mike Chervan led off the for the Spartans and singled to right field. Freshman Ryan Rybakowski followed with a single and Chervan moved to third. With a runner in scoring position, the Sabres walked Tanner Oymain to load the bases. Walzcak then drew a bases loaded walk scoring Chervan, ending the game with a 7-6 Spartan win.

Game Two
Marian 8 Aurora 4

Senior pitcher Josh Kwasny got the start in game two for the Spartans and would ultimately get the loss. Kwasny faced 21 batters, striking out four and walked three while surrendering seven runs, three which were earned.

AU started the game right where they left off game one. Walzack drilled a line drive to right field and hustled around for a triple scoring Oymaian who reached on a walk. Flores came up and singled right over the second basemans glove to score Walzack. The Spartans led 2-0 at the end of the first.

The second inning would be much like the first for the Spartans, Oymaian sent a ball sailing to center field and would get a double scoring Mike Torres who reached on a wild pitch following a strikeout.

The Sabres would get two back in the top of the third to close the cap to 3-2.

In the bottom of the third the Spartans would get back one on a single from Corey Landers which scored Swain who reached on a hit by pitch.

The Spartans would give up five runs in the top of the fourth. The Sabres took the 7-4 led over the Spartans.

The game would settle down and the next run came by the Sabres to extent the lead and win over the Spartans 8-4

With the split, AU is now 5-12 overall and 1-1 in the NACC. Next action for the Spartan baseball team comes on Thursday, April 3 when they travel to North Central College. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m. in Naperville, Ill.