Aurora University Athletics

The Aurora University softball team swept the Muskies of Lakeland College on Saturday and in doing so, AU clinched an appearance in the upcoming NACC Tournament.

GAME ONE
GAME INFORMATION – Saturday, April 23, 2016
Score: Aurora University 9, Lakeland College 3
Records: Aurora University (26-7; 15-0 NACC) vs. Lakeland College (16-13; 8-7 NACC)
Location: Plymouth, Wisconsin. – Muskie Field
Game Time: 1:35
Weather: 53 degrees, sunny

SPARTAN STARTING LINE UP:
1. #30 Mandey Shrader - 2B
2. #21 Laura Dierking - DP
3. #9 Larkin Langston - SS
4. #13 Elaine Walker - C
5. #5 Stephanie Starr - CF
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
Laura Dierking was three for three with a home run, four runs batted in and two runs scored.
Taylor Moore was two for three with three runs scored.
Elaine Walker was two for four with a triple and one run batted in.
Larkin Langston was one for three with a double and three runs batted in.

HOW IT HAPPENED
- Spartan Laura Dierking hit a solo home run in the first to give AU a 1-0 lead.
- Lakeland tied the game in the first with a run on two hits.
- AU took back the lead in the second, scoring four runs on three hits and took advantage of one Muskie error. Amie Raynor and Larkin Langston both doubled in the inning with Langston driving in two runs.
- Lakeland got an unearned run in the bottom of the inning and after two complete, AU led 5-2.
- In the fourth, Taylor Moore singled and scored later on a Dierking single.
- Lakeland hung around though, scoring one more run in the fifth to cut the AU lead in half at 6-3.
- AU got the bats going in the sixth inning. Three singles to start the inning loaded the bases before sacrifice flyouts from Dierking and Langston scored Moore and Lauren Huebner. Elaine Walker then singled to score Shrader and AU led 9-3.

SPARTAN LEADERS:
HITS:  Laura Dierking (3)
HOME RUN: Laura Dierking (1)
TRIPLE: Elaine Walker (1)
DOUBLE: Langston Larkin and Amie Raynor (1)
RUNS: Taylor Moore (3)
RUNS BATTED IN: Laura Dierking (4)                                                                                         

GAME TWO -
GAME INFORMATION – Saturday, April 23, 2016
Score: Aurora University 3, Lakeland College 0
Records: Aurora University (27-7; 16-0 NACC) vs. Lakeland College (16-14; 8-8 NACC)
Location: Plymouth, Wisconsin. – Muskie Field
Game Time: 1:24
Weather: 54 degrees, sunny
 
SPARTAN STARTING LINE UP:
1. #30 Mandey Shrader - 2B
2. #21 Laura Dierking - RF
3. #9 Larkin Langston - SS
4. #13 Elaine Walker - C
5. #5 Stephanie Starr - CF
6. #12 Amie Raynor - DP
7. #10 Logan Cahill - 1B
8. #44 Taylor Moore - 3B
9  #3 Lauren Huebner - LF
10. #14 Britni Wilson - pitcher

SPARTAN HIGHLIGHTS
Britni Wilson threw the complete game shutout, scattering nine hits and struck out five.
Laura Dierking was one for three with a home run, two runs scored and one run batted in.
Logan Cahill was one for three with a home run, one run scored and one run batted in.

HOW IT HAPPENED
- AU manufactured their first run as Stephanie Starr singled and advanced to second on an error. She moved to third on a fly out and then scored on a squeeze play from Logan Cahill.
- Vanessa Hartzell came in relief of Wilson who left as the pitcher of record in the fifth inning.
- The Spartans added two runs in the sixth with singles from Mandey Shrader (scored), Elaine Walker (scored), Starr and Amie Raynor.
- AU won 3-0 to complete the sweep.

SPARTAN LEADERS:
HITS: Mandey Shrader and Stephanie Starr (2)
RUNS: Mandey Shrader, Elaine Walker and Stephanie Starr (1)
RUNS BATTED IN: Elaine Walker, Logan Cahill and Amie Raynor (1) 
 
UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan softball team comes on Sunday, April 24 when they travel to Marian University. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. in Fond du lac, Wisconsin.