Aurora University Athletics

The Aurora University softball team survived a rain delay and early scare from Alverno College to extend their win streak to eight games in 2016 and 28 games (regular season) in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference. The NACC streak dates back to April 26, 2014 as they suffered their last loss on April 25 (12-11) vs Alverno. AU defeated Alverno this afternoon 10-2 (5 innings) and 11-6.

GAME ONE - Box Score
GAME INFORMATION – Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Score: Aurora University 10, Alverno College 2 - 5 innings
Records: Aurora University (12-5; 3-0 NACC) vs. Alverno College (8-11; 1-2 NACC)
Location: Montgomery, Illinois. – Stuart Sports Complex
Game Time: 1:11
Weather: 45 degrees and partly cloudy
 
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
Larkin Langston was four for four with two home runs, five runs batted in and two runs scored.
Elaine Walker was three for three with a home run, one run batted in and one run scored.
Laura Dierking was two for three with a home run, two runs batted in and two runs scored.
Mandey Shrader was two for three with a double, one run batted in and one run scored.
Lauren Huebner was two for three with two runs scored.
Stephanie Starr was two for three with one run scored.
Vanessa Hartzell earned the win, pitching the five innings, striking out eight, allowing five hits and two runs.

HOW IT HAPPENED
- Alverno scored an unearned run in the top of the first inning to lead 1-0.
- With one out, Spartan Laura Dierking singled in the first and scored on a two-run home run from Larkin Langston. Stephanie Starr followed with a single and after  singles from Elaine Walker and Amie Raynor (scored Starr), AU led 3-1.
- Alverno added another run in the second with three hits and a hit by pitch scoring the run.
- In the bottom of the second, Lauren Huebner singled to lead off and came around to score on a single from Langston to give AU a 4-2 lead.
- AU added four runs in the fourth courtesy of extra base hits. Mandey Shrader led off with a double and scored on a Dierking two-run blast. Langston followed with her second home run of the game and after a deep Starr fly-out, Elaine Walker hit a solo shot to give AU the 8-2 lead.
- In the fifth, needing two runs to end the game early, AU went to work on offense. A lead-off walk was drawn by Taylor Moore (Grace Riley came on to run for her), Huebner singled, Shrader singled to score Riley, Dierking walked before Langston singled to end the game with Huebner scoring the games decisive run.

SPARTAN LEADERS:
HITS: Larkin Langston (4) and Elaine Walker (3)
RUNS: Laura Dierking, Larkin Langston and Lauren Huebner (2)
HOME RUNS: Larkin Langston (2), Laura Dierking and Elaine Walker (1)                                                                                                            
DOUBLE: Mandey Shrader (1)
RUNS BATTED IN: Larkin Langston (5) and :Laura Dierking (2)
 

GAME TWO - Box Score
GAME INFORMATION – Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Score: Aurora University 11, Alverno College 6
Records: Aurora University (13-5; 4-0 NACC) vs. Alverno College (8-12; 1-3 NACC)
Location: Montgomery, Illinois. – Stuart Sports Complex
Game Time: 2:20 - 35 minute rain delay
Weather: 45 degrees and partly cloudy. Rain after third inning.
 
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 - C
6. #12 Amie Raynor - 1B
7. #10 Logan Cahill - 3B
8  #44 Taylor Moore - DP
9. #3 Lauren Huebner - LF
10. #14 Britni Wilson - pitcher
 
SPARTAN HIGHLIGHTS
Elaine Walker was three for four with a triple, double, three runs batted in and one run scored.
Laura Dierking was two for four with a home run, four runs batted in and two runs scored
Larkin Langston was two for three with a double, one run batted in and one run scored.
Mandey Shrader was two for five with a double, one run batted in and two runs scored.
Lauren Huebner was one for three with a double, two runs scored and one run batted in.
Taylor Moore was one for three with one run scored and one run batted in.

HOW IT HAPPENED
- AU scored quickly in game two as Mandey Shrader led off with a single, stole second and scored on a ground rule double from Larkin Langston. Langston came around to score on a double from Elaine Walker and AU led 2-0.
- Alverno took advantage of a lead-off walk from AU starter Britni Wilson and scored one to cut the AU lead to 2-1.
- The Spartan offense stayed hot though in the bottom of the inning. With two-outs Shrader doubled and scored on Laura Dierking's second home run of the day. AU led 4-1 after two innings.
- In the top of the third, Alverno started with three hits and drew a walk to chase Wilson from the game as Cat Yanis came on to throw. When the damage of the inning was done, Alverno scored four times and took a 5-4 lead.
- Not to be out done though, the Spartans responded immediately. Walker singled, Logan Cahill walked with one out, Taylor Moore singled to score Walker and the game was tied. When Lauren Huebner doubled, Shelby Jellison scored (running for Cahill) the go ahead run. Moore scored on a ground out by Shrader and a Dierking single scored Huebner as AU regained the lead at 8-5.
- In the top of the fourth, with a 2-1 count on the Inferno lead-off hitter the skies opened up, causing a 35-minute rain delay.
- After a scoreless fourth inning, Alverno scored once in the fifth, chasing Yanis from the game as gam one starter Vanessa Hartzell came on to pitch.
- The Spartans answered once again though, tallying three runs in the bottom of the inning. Huebner walked to start the inning and came around to score on an infield error that allowed Dierking to reach. After a Langston walk and with two outs, Walker tripled to right center, scoring Dierking and Starr. At the end of five innings, AU led 11-6.
- Both teams stranded runners in the sixth but the score would remain 11-6 when Hartzell got the final three outs in the seventh by strike out.

SPARTAN LEADERS:
HITS: Elaine Walker (3)
RUNS: Laura Dierking, Mandey Shrader and Lauren Huebner (2)
HOME RUN: Laura Dierking (1)                                                                                                            
TRIPLE: Elaine Walker (1)
DOUBLE: Mandey Shrader, Larkin Lagnston, Elaine Walker and Lauren Huebner (1)
RUNS BATTED IN: Laura Dierking (4) and Elaine Walker (3)
STOLEN BASE: Mandey Shrader and Lauren Huebner (1)
 
UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan softball team comes on Thursday, April 7 when they host North Central College. Game one of the doubleheader is set for 3:00 p.m. at the Stuart Sports Complex in Montgomery, Illinois.