Aurora University Athletics

Behind the right arm of senior pitcher Vanessa Hartzell the Aurora University softball team swept the Raiders of Milwaukee School of Engineering. Hartzell tossed a no-hitter in a 4-0 game one win and picked up the save in game two, a 2-1 victory.

GAME ONE
GAME INFORMATION – Saturday, April 16, 2016
Score: Aurora University 4, Milwaukee School of Engineering 0
Records: Aurora University (21-6; 11-0 NACC) vs. Milwaukee School of Engineering (4-13; 2-7 NACC)
Location: Montgomery, Illinois. – Stuart Sports Complex
Game Time: 1:10
Weather: 75 degrees, sunny; Wind: SSE@7

SPARTAN STARTING LINE UP:
1. #30 Mandey Shrader - SS
2. #21 Laura Dierking - 2B
3. #13 Elaine Walker - C
4. #5 Stephanie Starr - CF
5. #12 Amie Raynor - RF
6. #44 Taylor Moore - 3B
7. #10 Logan Cahill - 1B
8. #22 Josie Bachtell - DP
9  #3 Lauren Huebner - LF
10. #27 Vanessa Hartzell - pitcher
 
SPARTAN HIGHLIGHTS
Vanessa Hartzell pitched no-hitter, as she allowed just one hit batsman to reach in her complete game shutout, striking out 13.
Elaine Walker was three for four with a home run, triple, three runs batted in and two runs scored.
Stephanie Starr was two for three with one run batted in.
Lauren Huebner was two for two.
Josie Bachtell was two for three.

HOW IT HAPPENED
- AU starting pitcher Vanessa Hartzell was dominant, tossing a no hitter and coming one hit by pitch from a perfect game. She struck out 13 of the 21 possible outs.
- The Spartans jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first with a run scoring triple from Elaine Walker and a single from Stephanie Starr doing the damage.
- AU added two more runs in the third thanks to a two-run home run from Walker that scored Laura Dierking.
- The Spartans led runners on throughout the game, finishing the day with eight stranded Spartans.

SPARTAN LEADERS:
HITS:  Elaine Walker (3), Stephanie Starr, Lauren Huebner and Josie Bachtell (2)
HOME RUN: Elaine Walker (1)
TRIPLE: Elaine Walker (1)
DOUBLE: Taylor Moore (1)
RUNS: Laura Dierking and Elaine Walker (2)
RUNS BATTED IN: Elaine Walker (3) and Stephanie Starr (1)                                                                                         

GAME TWO -
GAME INFORMATION – Saturday, April 16, 2016
Score: Aurora University 2, Milwaukee School of Engineering 1
Records: Aurora University (22-6; 12-0 NACC) vs. Milwaukee School of Engineering (4-14; 2-8 NACC)
Location: Montgomery, Illinois. – Stuart Sports Complex
Game Time: 1:28
Weather: 75 degrees, sunny; Wind: SSE@7
 
SPARTAN STARTING LINE UP:
1. #30 Mandey Shrader - SS
2. #21 Laura Dierking - 2B
3. #13 Elaine Walker - DP
4. #5 Stephanie Starr - CF
5. #12 Amie Raynor - RF
6. #44 Taylor Moore - 3B
7. #10 Logan Cahill - 1B
8  #23 Ashley Pittman - C
9. #3 Lauren Huebner - LF
10. #14 Britni Wilson - pitcher

SPARTAN HIGHLIGHTS
Lauren Huebner was two for three with one run scored.
Elaine Walker was two for three with two runs batted in.
Britni Wilson earned the win, pitching five innings, striking out one, allowing one run and six hits.
Vanessa Hartzell threw the final two innings in relief for the save, she struck out three and allowed no hits.

HOW IT HAPPENED
- MSOE got their first hits of the day in the first but AU pitcher Britni Wilson left them stranded.
- AU loaded the bases in the second but could not push across a run.
- MSOE scored first in the fourth with one run and left the bases loaded as Spartan Lauren Huebner made a diving catch to end the inning.
- The Spartans answered in the bottom of the inning with a lead-off walk to Ashley Pittman and a single for Huebner. Later in the inning, with two outs, Elaine Walker drove in both Pittman and Huebner giving AU the 2-1 lead.
- Vanessa Hartzell relieved Wilson in the sixth and did not allow a hit over the final two innings as AU won 2-1.

SPARTAN LEADERS:
HITS: Lauren Huebner and Elaine Walker (3)
DOUBLE: Amie Raynor (1)
RUNS: Lauren Huebner and Ashley Pittman (2)
RUNS BATTED IN: Elaine Walker (2)  
 
UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan softball team comes on Sunday, April 17 when they travel to Concordia University Wisconsin. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. in Mequon, Wisconsin.