Aurora University Athletics

The Aurora University Spartans traveled to River Forest, Illinois to play Concordia University Chicago for a NACC conference doubleheader. The Spartans offense produced eight runs (8-6 win) in an exciting come from behind win in game one and captured a close win in game two outlasting Concordia by one run (4-3 win).

GAME ONE - Box Score
GAME INFORMATION – Sunday, April 3, 2016
Score: Aurora University 8, Concordia University Chicago 6
Records: Aurora University (10-5; 1-0 NACC) vs. Concordia University Chicago (11-3; 0-1 NACC)
Location: River Forest, Illinois. – CUC softball field
Game Time: 1:50
Weather: 44 degrees and windy
 
SPARTAN STARTING LINE UP:
1. #30 Mandey Shrader - 2B
2. #21 Laura Dierking - DP
3. #9 Larkin Langston - SS
4. #5 Stephanie Starr - CF
5. #13 Elaine Walker - C
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
Elaine Walker was three for four with a home run, two runs scored and one run batted in.
Lauren Huebner was one for two with two runs scored.
Laura Dierking was one for three with two runs batted in.

HOW IT HAPPENED
- AU fell behind 1-0 in the bottom of the first but tied the game in the third when Taylor Moore walked to lead off the inning and came around to score on a Laura Dierking single.
- CUC answered the Spartans though with a four run bottom half of the third and led 5-1.
- The Spartans chipped away at the lead, scoring one run in the fourth on an Elaine Walker home run and two in the fifth inning. AU took advantage of two Cougar errors and a run scoring double from Larkin Langston that scored Huebner.
- Concordia added one run in the fifth to lead 6-4 which was the score heading into the seventh inning.
- Three outs from facing their first NACC loss since the 2014 season, AU worked some magic with two outs.
- Huebner (single) and Mandey Shrader (hit by pitch) got the inning started but two outs were quickly followed up. Back to back singles by Stephanie Starr and Walker tied the game with Starr and Walker both coming around to score on a pair of errors on the Walker single. When the inning ended, AU led 8-6.
- AU pitcher Vanessa Hartzell nailed down the bottom of the seventh but not without some drama as she had the Cougars load the bases against her but she got the final out by a strikeout.

SPARTAN LEADERS:
HITS: Elaine Walker (3)
RUNS: Elaine Walker, Taylor Moore and Lauren Huebner (2)
HOME RUNS: Elaine Walker (1)                                                                                                            
DOUBLES: Larkin Langston and Amie Raynor (1)
RUNS BATTED IN: Laura Dierking (2)
 

GAME TWO - Box Score
GAME INFORMATION – Sunday, April 3, 2016                                                                                        
Score: Aurora University 4, Concordia University Chicago 3
Records: Aurora University (11-5; 2-0 NACC) vs. Concordia University Chicago (11-4; 0-2 NACC)
Location: River Forest, Illinois. – CUC softball field
Game Time: 1:40
Weather: 61 degrees and windy
 
SPARTAN STARTING LINE UP:
1. #30 Mandey Shrader - 2B
2. #21 Laura Dierking - RF
3. #9 Larkin Langston - SS
4. #5 Stephanie Starr - CF
5. #13 Elaine Walker - DP
6. #12 Amie Raynor - 1B
7. #10 Logan Cahill - 3B
8  #23 Ashley Pittman - C
9. #3 Lauren Huebner - LF
10. #14 Britni Wilson - pitcher
 
SPARTAN HIGHLIGHTS
Elaine Walker was three for four.
Lauren Huebner was two for three with one run scored.
Britni Wilson earned the win, pitching 5-1/3 innings, allowing three unearned runs.
Vanessa Hartzell earned her fourth save of the season, pitching the final 1-2/3 innings striking out two and allowing no hits or runs.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- AU got on the scoreboard quickly in the first inning. Mandey Shrader walked and then stole second and third. She then scored on a ground out from Laura Dierking.
- In the third, AU took advantage of a lead-off walk again. Dierking drew the free pass and after a hit by pitch for Stephanie Starr and single for Elaine Walker, AU had the bases packed. Amie Raynor singled to score Starr and Dierking and AU led 3-0.
- In the bottom of the inning though CUC scored three runs with one AU error and three hits.
- The game remained tied at 3-3 until the sixth inning. Huebner led off with a single, advanced to second and stole third. She then scored on a single from Larkin Langston.
- AU and Head Coach Mike McKenzie turned to Vanessa Hartzell to relieve starter Britni Wilson in the bottom of the sixth. Hartzell struck out two of the six batters she faced for her fourth save of the season.

SPARTAN LEADERS:
HITS: Elaine Walker (3)
RUNS: Mandey Shrader, Laura Dierking, Stephanie Starr and Lauren Huebner (1)
RUNS BATTED IN: Amie Raynor (2)
STOLEN BASE: Mandey Shrader (3)
 
UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan softball team comes on Tuesday, April 5 when they host Alverno College. Game one of the doubleheader is set for 3:00 p.m. at the Stuart Sports Complex in Montgomery, Illinois.