The Aurora University Spartan baseball team traveled to Marian University looking to get back to .500 overall and in the NACC. With a sweep of Marian, AU succeeded in getting back to .500.

GAME ONE INFORMATION – Saturday, April 23, 2016
Score: Aurora University 12, Marian University 0 - 7 innings
Records: Aurora University (15-16; 6-7 NACC) vs. Marian University (7-21; 0-11 NACC)
Location: Fond du lac, Wisconsin – Herr-Baker Field
Game Time: 2:05
Weather: 65 degrees, sunny; Wind: 5-10
 
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. #5 Eli McMahon - pitcher
 
SPARTAN HIGHLIGHTS
Dillon Popovich was three for five with a double, two runs scored and one run batted in.
Cole Davis was two for three with two runs scored and two runs batted in..
Mike Cherven was two for four with a double, three runs batted in and one run scored.
Nick Turner was two for three with two runs scored and two runs batted in..
Elias McMahon earned the complete game shutout win, striking out four.

HOW IT HAPPENED
- AU scored six runs in the top of the first inning on five hits and took advantage of one Marian error.
- The Spartans added a run in the second with a lead off single from Dillon Popovich and he scored on a single from Nick Turner.
- In the fourth, AU added three more runs on three hits to take a 10-0 lead.
- A pair of doubles from Jeff Woods and Popovich started the fifth for AU and the Spartans added two more runs to lead 12-0.
- AU left the bases loaded in the sixth and seventh but did not score before going on to win 12-0.

SPARTAN LEADERS:
HITS: Dillon Popovich (3)
RUN: Nick Turner, Dillon Popovich, Jeff Woods, Adam Lipscomb and Cole Davis (2)
RUNS BATTED IN: Mike Cherven (3)
DOUBLE: Jeff Woods (2), Dillon Popovich and Mike Cherven (1)
 
GAME TWO INFORMATION – Saturday, April 23, 2016
Score: Aurora University 13, Marian University 5
Records: Aurora University (16-16; 7-7 NACC) vs. Marian University (7-22; 0-12 NACC)
Location: Fond du lac, Wisconsin – Herr-Baker Field
Game Time: 2:51
Weather: 65 degrees, sunny; Wind: 5-10
 
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. #1 Tyler Findlay - pitcher
 
SPARTAN HIGHLIGHTS
Dillon Popovich was four for five with two doubles, three runs batted in and three runs scored.
Cole Davis was three for three with a double and five runs batted in.
Jeff Woods was two for three with three runs scored.
Adam Lipscomb was two for three with one run batted in and three runs scored.

HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Spartans continued where they left off in game one, scoring runs. Jeff Woods singled and scored on a double off the bat of Dillon Popovich and Popovich came around to score on a single from Cole Davis.
- Two out magic came in handy for AU in the third. Three straight singles from Adam Lipscomb, Popovich and Davis plated two and AU led 4-0.
- A pair of singles and two hit by pitches helped AU scored one on the fifth and AU led 5-0.
- The Spartans kept scoring in the sixth, having five runs come home with two outs on five hits.
- Facing a second straight mercy rule game, Marian scored two in the bottom of the sixth.
- AU would not stop scoring though, adding one run in the seventh.
- In the bottom of the seventh, Marian looked to make the game a contest, scoring three times and AU led 11-5.
- The Spartans would score a single run in both the eighth and ninth and Coach Stevens was able to get his reserves some game action.

SPARTAN LEADERS:
HITS: Dillon Popovich (4)
DOUBLES: Dillon Popovich (2) and Cole Davis (1)
RUNS: Jeff Woods, Dillon Popovich and Adam Lipscomb (3)
RUNS BATTED IN: Cole Davis (5)

UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan baseball team comes on Sunday, April 24 when they host Milwaukee School of Engineering. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at the Stuart Sports Complex in Montgomery, Illinois.