A match up of longtime rivals on the softball diamond on Wednesday afternoon pitted the Aurora University Spartans and Benedictine University Eagles at the Stuart Sports Complex. AU coasted to a 7-2 win in game one before a dramatic come from behind 8-7 win in game two.

After the doubleheader, the Spartans took part in the AU Division III week event that brought members of the Team 203 Special Olympic out for a softball throw and meet and greet with the AU softball team.

Game One
Aurora 7 Benedictine 2

AU used timely power hitting and a late big inning to run away with game one over BU 7-2. Spartan starting pitcher Vanessa Hartzell got the best of the Eagle hitters, scattering five hits and allowing two runs while striking out only two, using her defense to her advantage.

Offensively, AU scored all seven runs over three innings, the third, fourth and fifth. With two outs in the third, junior Lauren Huebner singled after the BU shortstop dropped what would have been the third out in foul territory. After Huebner reached, sophomore Mandey Shrader followed with a two-run home run to straight away center field.

AU manufactured another two out run in the fourth with singles from Steph Starr and Amie Raynor coming in front of a Vanessa Wegner single that scored Starr with the third Spartan run.

After BU scored a run in the top of the fifth, the AU offense went back to work. Huebner and Shrader got the inning started for AU with Huebner reaching on an error by the left fielder and when a bunt from Shrader found no Eagle covering first, AU had runners on the corners. AU Head Coach Mike McKenzie then called a double steal with Huebner scoring on the play. The inning was extended by another Eagle error that allowed Starr to reach and Shrader to score. Raynor then hit a laser two-run home run to left and AU led 7-1.

After a meaningless run in the seventh, AU went to the between game intermission victorius.

Game Two
Aurora  8  Benedictine  7

Game two saw BU jump out to a 2-0 lead in the first only to see AU tie the game immediately. Shrader hit a lead-off home run for the first run and Larkin Langston reached on a fielders choice and later scored on a single from Raynor.

The teams then traded runs in the third with AU seeing Raynor scoring on a triple off the bat of Megan Nerger. Benedictine adding a run in the fourth and three more in the fifth to chase Spartan starter Natalie Zanella with Britni Wilson being called on in relief.

Wilson would pitch the final 2-2/3 innings, allowing just one hit, walking two and striking out one. With Wilson quieting the BU bats, the Spartan bats tried to come to life but were kept in check heading into the bottom of the seventh.

After McKenzie brought his team together for an extended discussion prior to the inning, the bats came to life and Shrader got them going. She deposited her third round tripper of the day over the left field fence cutting the deficit to three at 7-4. Logan Cahill, Langston and Starr all hit singles with Starr driving in Cahill and bringing the winning run to the plate. BU made a pitching change, bringing in Holly Haberkorn, the game one losing pitcher to try and shut down the Spartans. And it looked as she would after getting a strike out and pop out quickly, bringing the Spartans to their last out. Senior Vanessa Wegner would have none of that though, singling to right to score Langston with Starr moving to third s the tying run. Freshman Angel Guerra pinch ran for Wegner and when Taylor Moore singled to left, the game was tied and Guerra sat on second with the potential winning run. Stepping to the plate looking to deliver the big hit was Huebner and so certainly did so. Huebner roped a line drive to right field and McKenzie wildly waved Guerra around third and when she slid into the plate ahead of the throw, AU had capped the come back to win 8-7.

Wilson earned her first collegiate win in relief thanks to the big come back from the offense.

With the sweep, AU is now winners of 12-straight and are now 17-3 overall and 10-0 in the NACC. Next action for the Spartan softball team comes on Saturday, April 11, 2015 when they travel to Milwaukee School of Engineering for a NACC doubleheader. Game one is set for 12:00 p.m. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.