Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The Aurora University softball team traveled to Holland, Michigan for a non-conference doubleheader with Hope College. AU swept the doubleheader, winning 4-3 and 8-1 to bring their season record back to .500.

Game One
Aurora 4 Hope College 3

Getting the start for the Spartans in the circle was sophomore Vanessa Hartzell who faced 30 batters, struck out seven and walked one in the win for the Spartans.

AU would take the lead in the top of the second when Hartzell flew out to center field scoring Steph Starr who reached on a single eariler in the inning. They would get another run in the top of the third when Sarah Clauser singled to center field scoring Mandey Shrader who reached on an error by the third basemen.

The Spartans would give up a run in the bottom of the fourth, AU led 2-1 at the end of four.

AU quickly earned back the run in the top of the fifth when Starr singled to center scoring Laura Dierking who reached on a single.

In the bottom of the sixth, Hope added a run to close the cap to 3-2.

AU would quickly score again in the top of the seventh with a double by Starr scoring Shrader, extending the lead to 4-2.

The Spartans would give up one more run in the bottom of the seventh but Hartzell closed out the game winning 4-3.

Game Two.
Aurora 8 Hope College 1

In the cirlce for the Spartans was junior Natalie Zanella who faced 23 batters, striking out two and walking one.

The Spartans scored three times in the third inng. The first run coming from a single by Dierking scoring Natalia Szyller who was running for Logan Cahill who reached on an error. Clauser would hammer a double out to center field scoring Dierking. Starr then had a single scoring Clauser.

The Spartans gave up their lone run in the bottom of the third, AU led 3-1 at the end of the third.

AU scored three more in the top of the fourth.Shrader crushed the ball over the left fielder for a double scoring Cahill who singled. Shrader would later score on a wild pitch. Clauser singled to left field scoring Dierking who reached on a single.

The Spartans would rack up two more runs in the top of the fifth when Lisa Pena singled to left field scoring Rebecca Randall who pinch ran for Taylor Moore. Lauren Huebner would have a sacrifice fly to center field scoring Pena.

With the sweep, AU is now 7-7 and 2-0 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference. Next action for the softball team comes on Thursday, April 3 when they travel to the University of Chicago game time set for 3:00pm