The Aurora University Spartan baseball team hosted longtime rival Benedictine University and the NACC doubleheader produced the normal match-up between the teams as AU fell 3-2 in game one and won 5-3 in the second game.

GAME ONE INFORMATION – Sunday, April 17, 2016
Score: Benedictine University 3; Aurora University 2
Records: Aurora University (13-16; 4-7 NACC) vs. Benedictine University (12-10; 7-4 NACC)
Location: Montgomery, Illinois – Stuart Sports Complex
Game Time: 2:32
Weather: 78 degrees, sunny; Wind: SSE@7
 
SPARTAN STARTING LINE UP:
1. #4 Jeffrey Mayes  - SS
2. #12 Jeff Woods - 3B
3. #30 Dillon Popovich - 1B
4. #11 Adam Lipscomb - 2B
5. #14 Cole Davis - DH
6. #6 Nick Turner  - RF
7. #9 Jeff LaPage - C
8. #31 Nicholas Mathey  - LF
9. #2 Ryan Rybakowski  - CF
10. #5 Eli McMahon - pitcher
 
SPARTAN HIGHLIGHTS
Cole Davis was two for three with one run scored.
Nick Turner was two for three with one run scored.
Nicholas Mathey was one for four with two runs batted in.

HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Spartans scored twice in the second with a one out single by Cole Davis. Nick Turner reached after being hit by a pitch. Following a second out that allowed Davis to move to third, Turner stole second. Nicholas Mathey then singled to center to score Davis and Turner for a 2-0 lead.
- That lead held up until the eighth inning wth both teams leaving multiple runners stranded.
- In the eighth, Benedictine got a one out solo home run and two more hits in the inning plated the tying run.
- In the ninth, Benedictine took advantage of a lead off hit batsman to eventually score with the go ahead and winning run.

SPARTAN LEADERS:
HITS: Nick Turner and Cole Davis (2)
RUN: Nick Turner and Cole Davis (1)
RUNS BATTED IN: Nicholas Mathey (2)
 
GAME TWO INFORMATION – Sunday, April 17, 2016
Score: Aurora University 5; Benedictine University 3
Records: Aurora University (14-16; 5-7 NACC) vs. Benedictine University (12-11; 7-5 NACC)
Location: Montgomery, Illinois – Stuart Sports Complex
Game Time: 2:34
Weather: 78 degrees, sunny; Wind: SSE@7
 
SPARTAN STARTING LINE UP:
1. #4 Jeffrey Mayes  - SS
2. #12 Jeff Woods - 3B
3. #30 Dillon Popovich - 1B
4. #11 Adam Lipscomb - 2B
5. #14 Cole Davis - DH
6. #6 Nick Turner  - RF
7. #8 Mike Cherven - C
8. #31 Nicholas Mathey  - LF
9. #2 Ryan Rybakowski  - CF
10. #27 Jacob Stockman - pitcher
 
SPARTAN HIGHLIGHTS
Jeff Woods was three for four with a double and two runs scored.
Adam Lipscomb was one for four with one run batted in and one run scored.
Jacob Stockman threw seven innings, allowing three runs and struck out four.
Henry Erickson threw one inning for his first save of the season. He struck out one.

HOW IT HAPPENED
- After Spartan pitcher Jacob Stockman got out of a bases loaded jam in the first which included Nicholas Mathey hosing an Eagle base runner at the plate, AU went to work on offense. Jeff Woods (bunt single), Dillon Popovich singled and Adam Lipscomb walk loaded the bases. With one out, Cole Davis grounded into what looked to be an inning ending double play but an errant throw to first extended the inning with Woods scoring. Two strikes later, AU successfully converted a walk-off play with Popovich scoring before Davis was tagged out.
- In the second, Benedictine took advantage of a pair of walks to start the inning and two hits later in the inning tied the game 2-2.
- AU got back on the board in the third. Ryan Rybakowski led off with a single and with one out, Jeff Woods hit a ground rule double. BU then intentionally walked Popovich to load the bases. Just as had happened in the first, BU seemed to have an inning ending double play ball but a bad throw to first allowed Rybakowsi to score and Woods to score on the error. At the end of three, AU led 4-2.
- The score remained 4-2 until the eighth though both teams squandered opportunities in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.
- In the eighth, Benedictine got a lead off single and followed with two AU errors to score one run.
- Leading by one, AU added to the lead in the bottom of the inning. Adam Lipscomb led off with a single and moved to second on an errant pick off throw from the Eagle catcher. After Lipscomb stole third, Nick Turner singled to right to score Lipscomb with the fifth run.
- Spartan senior Henry Erickson came on to close the door in the ninth, allowing one hit but struck out for his first save of the season.

SPARTAN LEADERS:
HITS: Jeff Woods (3)
DOUBLES: Jeff Woods (1)
RUNS: Jeff Woods (2)
RUNS BATTED IN: Adam Lipscomb, Cole Davis and Nick Turner (1)

UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan baseball team comes on Saturday, April 23 when they travel to Marian University. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.  in Fond du lac, Wisconsin.