Aurora University Athletics

The Aurora University Spartans traveled to Holland, Michigan and Hope College for a non-conference doubleheader. The Spartans offense produced 10 runs (10-1 win) in game one before the AU pitchers threw a 1-0 shutout for the win in game two.

GAME ONE - Box Score
GAME INFORMATION – Monday, March 28, 2016
Score: Aurora University 10, Hope College 1
Records: Aurora University (8-5) vs. Hope College (9-4)
Location: Holland, Michigan. – Wolters Stadium
Game Time: 1:30
Weather: 41 degrees and overcast
 
SPARTAN STARTING LINE UP:
1. #30 Mandey Shrader - 2B
2. #21 Laura Dierking - DP
3. #9 Larkin Langston - SS
4. #5 Stephanie Starr - CF
5. #13 Elaine Walker - C
6. #12 Amie Raynor - RF
7. #10 Logan Cahill - 1B
8  #44 Taylor Moore - 3B
9. #3 Lauren Huebner - LF
10. #27 Vanessa Hartzell - pitcher
 
SPARTAN HIGHLIGHTS
- Amie Raynor was three for four with two runs batted in and one run scored.
- Larkin Langston was two for three with two home runs, three runs scored and four runs batted in.
- Laura Dierking was two for two with two walks and three runs scored.
- Elaine Walker was two for four with two runs scored and one run batted in.
- Vanessa Hartzell picked up the win, pitching the complete game, striking out eight and scattering five hits with one unearned run.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- AU scored four times in the fourth inning. Laura Dierking led off with a walk and scored on a home run from Larkin Langston, With one out, Elaine Walker and Amie Raynor both singled and came around to score on a double from Logan Cahill.
- In the fifth, AU added to their lead. With one out, Mandey Shrader hit a home run which was then followed by a Dierking single and a two run home run from Langston. At the end of five innings, AU led 7-0.
- Hope scored an unearned run, their only score of the game in the bottom of the fifth.
- In the top of the seventh, AU added three insurance runs. Dierking led off with a single and moved to second on a walk to Langston. With one out, Walker singled to score Dierking and Langston and Walker came around to score on a single from Raynor.
- AU pitcher Vanessa Hartzell had Hope off balance all day as she collected the win.
 
SPARTAN LEADERS:
HITS: Raynor (3)
RUNS: Langston and Dierking (3)
HOME RUNS: Langston (2) and Shrader (1)
DOUBLES: Cahill (1)
RUNS BATTED IN: Langston (4)
 

GAME TWO - Box Score
GAME INFORMATION – Monday, March 28, 2016
Score: Aurora University 1, Hope College 0
Records: Aurora University (9-5) vs. Hope College (9-5)
Location: Holland, Michigan. – Wolters Stadium
Game Time: 1:40
Weather: 45 degrees and sunny
 
SPARTAN STARTING LINE UP:
1. #30 Mandey Shrader - 2B
2. #21 Laura Dierking - RF
3. #9 Larkin Langston - SS
4. #5 Stephanie Starr - CF
5. #13 Elaine Walker - DP
6. #12 Amie Raynor - 1B
7. #10 Logan Cahill - 3B
8  #23 Ashley Pittman - C
9. #3 Lauren Huebner - LF
10. #14 Britni Wilson - pitcher
 
SPARTAN HIGHLIGHTS
- Amie Raynor was one for two with a home run.
- Britni Wilson earned the win, pitching five innings, striking out two and scattering three hits.
- Vanessa Hartzell picked up a save, pitching the final two innings, allowing two hits and striking out three.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- AU loaded the bases in the second inning but came up empty as they could not push across a run.
- In the bottom of the fourth, Hope threatened but Spartan left fielder Lauren Huebner threw out a runner at the plate with Ashley Pittman applying the tag.
- AU left runners stranded at second and third in the fifth inning and the game remained 0-0.
- Spartan Amie Raynor hit what would be the game winning home run in the sixth inning to center field. AU led 1-0.
- After starting pitcher Britni Wilson had limited the Hope offense, Vanessa Hartzell came on in the sixth after a lead-off single. Hartzell got out of the potential jam and kept the score 1-0 AU.
- Hope would get two runners on in the seventh but the final out saw Hartzell strike out the Hope batter for the Spartan 1-0 victory.

SPARTAN LEADERS:
HITS: Raynor, Cahill, Shrader, Starr, Walker and Pittman (1)
RUNS: Raynor (1)
HOME RUN: Raynor (1)
RUNS BATTED IN: Raynor (1)
STOLEN BASE: Shrader (1)
 
UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan softball team comes on Saturday, April 2 when they host Alverno College in a doubleheader. Game one is set for 12:00 p.m. at the Stuart Sports Complex.