The Aurora University Spartan baseball team tuned up for the upcoming Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Tournament with a non-conference tilt at North Central College. AU hung with the nationally ranked Cardinals but fell 2-1.

GAME INFORMATION – Monday, May 9, 2016
Score: North Central College 2, Aurora University 1
Records: Aurora University (22-17) vs. North Central College (29-8)
Location: Naperville, Illinois. – Zimmerman Stadium
Game Time: 2:19
 
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
Adam Lipscomb was two for four with one run batted in.
Jeffrey Mayes was two for five with one run scored.
Nicholas Mathey was two for four.

HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Spartans got off to a fast start as Jeffrey Mayes led off the game with a single and stole second with one out. He scored with two outs on an Adam Lipscomb single.
- North Central answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the first and the game was tied 1-1.
- AU threatened in the second but Nick Turner was thrown out at the plate trying to score.
- North Central pushed across the go ahead run in the seventh courtesy of a two-out error which was followed up by a double.
- The Spartans threatened in the eighth and ninth but left two stranded in both innings.

SPARTAN LEADERS:
HITS: Jeffrey Mayes, Adam Lipscomb and Nicholas Mathey (2)
RUN:  Jeffrey Mayes (1)
RUNS BATTED IN: Adam Lipscomb (1)

UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan baseball team comes on Thursday, May 12 when they travel to Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Tournament hosted by Concordia University Wisconsin. AU is the No. 3 seed and will take on the No. 6 seed Dominican University at 10:00 a.m. in Mequon, Wisconsin.