The Aurora University Spartan baseball team put together a combination of solid pitching, good defense and timely hitting to sweep the Raiders of Milwaukee School of Engineering.

GAME ONE INFORMATION – Sunday, April 24, 2016
Score: Aurora University 5, Milwaukee School of Engineering 0
Records: Aurora University (17-16; 8-7 NACC) vs. Milwaukee School of Engineering (17-15; 8-5 NACC)
Location: Montgomery, Illinois – Stuart Sports Complex
Game Time: 1:47
Weather: 73 degrees, sunny; Wind: SS@15
 
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. #13 Kyle Manske - pitcher
 
SPARTAN HIGHLIGHTS
Jeffrey Mayes was two for four with two doubles and two runs scored.
Nick Turner was two for three.
Dillon Popovich was one for three with two runs batted in.
Kyle Manske pitched seven innings, allowing no runs, four hits and struck out three.
Jeff Woods earned the save, striking out four.

HOW IT HAPPENED
- Neither team could solve the opposing pitcher over the first 5-1/2 innings.
- In the sixth, AU got their bats going. Nicholas Mathey singled to lead off the inning and after a double from fellow freshman Jeffrey Mayes, Mathey scored on a sacrifice fly from Jeff Woods. Mayes scored on a single from Dillon Popovich and AU led 2-0.
- AU took advantage of a MSOE error in the seventh to score one run and led 3-0.
- In the eighth, AU added to their lead. A lead off double from Mayes was manufactured into a run. Later in the inning, Adam Lipscomb and Cale Sparks singled and then ran a perfect double steal and AU led 5-0.

SPARTAN LEADERS:
HITS: Jeffrey Mayes and Nick Turner (2)
RUN:  Jeffrey Mayes (2)
RUNS BATTED IN: Dillon Popovich (2)
DOUBLE: Jeffrey Mayes (2)
 
GAME TWO INFORMATION – Sunday, April 24, 2016
Score: Aurora University 5, Milwaukee School of Engineering 1
Records: Aurora University (18-16; 9-7 NACC) vs. Milwaukee School of Engineering (17-16; 8-6 NACC)
Location: Montgomery, Illinois – Stuart Sports Complex
Game Time: 2:15
Weather: 73 degrees, sunny; Wind: SS@15
 
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
Dillon Popovich was two for four with a home run, three runs batted in and one run scored.
Jeff Woods was two for three with two runs scored and one run batted in.
Cole Davis was three for four with a double and one run batted in.
Nick Turner was two for three.
Jacob Stockman pitched 8-1/3 innings for the win. He allowed one run, five hits and struck out two.
Chris Roycroft earned the save, facing and striking out two Raiders.

HOW IT HAPPENED
- AU got on the scoreboard early in game two. A one out walk by Jeff Woods was followed by a two-run Dillon Popovich home run. Adam Lipscomb then singled and scored one batter later on a single from Cole Davis. The Spartans led 3-0.
- In the third, AU loaded the bases but could not push across a run.
- But in the fourth, the Spartans added to their lead. With two outs, Woods singled and then scored from first when a high pop up from Popovich fell between the Raider infield and outfield.
- MSOE scored their first and only run of the day with a solo home run in the fifth inning.
- The Spartans used singles and little ball to add a run in the sixth. Ryan Rybakowski was hit by a pitch with one out and went to third on a single from Jeffrey Mayes. Jeff Woods then executed a perfect squeeze bunt to score Rybakowski.
- Jacob Stockman and Chris Roycroft held MSOE down the final three innings for the 5-1 win.

SPARTAN LEADERS:
HITS: Cole Davis (3)
HOME RUN: Dillon Popovich (1)
DOUBLES: Mike Cherven and Cole Davis (1)
RUNS: Jeff Woods (2)
RUNS BATTED IN: Dillon Popovich (3)

UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan baseball team comes on Thursday, April 28 when they travel to Carthage College. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. in Kenosha, Wisconsin.