The 2017 spring trip to Tucson, Arizona was a success for the Aurora University baseball team and AU is 9-1 as they return north for the final three quarters of the schedule. Below is a quick break down of the final five games and a comprehensive recap of the season to this point from a statistical standpoint.

GAME INFORMATION – Wednesday, March 8
Game Boxscore
Game Score: Aurora University 11, Newbury College 1 - 8 innings
Records: Aurora University (6-0)
Location: Tucson, Arizona. - Kino Sports Complex
 
SPARTAN HIGHLIGHTS  vs. Newbury
- AU scored in all of the final seven innings of the eight inning game while pounding out 17 hits.
- John Barnes made his first start as a Spartan for the win, throwing seven innings, allowing one run and striking out six.
- Michael Fidler was three for three with a home run, three runs scored and one run batted in.
- Cody Grebory was three for four with two runs batted in and one run scored.
- Jeff Mayes was three for four with a double, one run scored and one run batted in.

GAME INFORMATION – Thursday, March 9
Game Boxscore
Game Score: Aurora University 14, North Central University (Minn.) 0 - 7 innings
Records: Aurora University (7-0)
Location: Tucson, Arizona. - Kino Sports Complex
 
SPARTAN HIGHLIGHTS vs. North Central University
- The Spartans again pounded out 17 hits with 10 being extra base hits.
- Dan Heiden made his first collegiate start and earned the win. He threw five innings, with no runs, four hits and struck out two.
- Nick Turner went two for two with a home run, double, three runs scored and one run batted in.
- Cale Sparks was three for three with a double, two runs scored and two runs batted in.
- Jeff Mayes was three for four with a double, home run, three runs batted in and two runs scored.
- Nicholas Mathey was two for three with a double, two runs batted in and one run scored.

GAME INFORMATION – Friday, March 10
Game One - Boxscore | Game Two - Boxscore
Game One Score: Aurora University 15, North Central University (Minn.) 9
Game Two Score: Salem State University 22, Aurora University 8
Records: Aurora University (8-1)
Location: Tucson, Arizona. - Kino Sports Complex
 
SPARTAN HIGHLIGHTS - GAME ONE vs. North Central University
- The Spartans scored 14 runs in the first six innings but couldn't get to the 10 run rule but held on for the win.
- All AU starters picked up hits in the game.
- Jeff Woods went four for seven with a double, six runs batted in and three runs scored.
- Jeff Mayes went five for six with a double, four runs scored and three runs batted in.
- Cody Gregory was three for six with a double and three runs scored.

SPARTAN HIGHLIGHTS - GAME TWO vs. Salem State
- AU allowed crooked numbers in six different innings including six spots in the second and eighth.
- Cole Davis went three for four with a home run, two doubles, three runs batted in and two runs scored.
- Jeff Woods was two for three with a double, one run scored and one run batted in.
- Cale Sparks was two for four with a triple, double, one run scored and one run batted in.
 
GAME INFORMATION – Saturday, March 11
Game Boxscore
Score: Aurora University 9, Bethany Lutheran College 3
Records: Aurora University (9-1) 
Location: Tucson, Arizona. - Kino Sports Complex
 
SPARTAN HIGHLIGHTS vs. Bethany Lutheran
- AU scored five runs in the bottom of the first to take an early lead.
- Adam Lipscomb went three for four with a double, two runs batted in and one run scored.
- Jacob Bachio was one for one with two runs batted in and one run scored.

SPRING TRIP LEADERS:
HITTING
AVERAGE (min 20 at bats): Jeff Mayes (.604), Jeff Woods (.462) and Adam Lipscomb (.421)
HITS: Jeff Mayes (29), Jeff Woods (18) and Adam Lipscomb (14)
RUNS: Jeff Mayes (20), Michael Fidler (13) and Jeff Woods (12)
DOUBLES: Adam Lipscomb and Jeff Mayes (6)
TRIPLES: Jeff Mayes (3) and Cale Sparks (2)
HOME RUNS: Michael Fidler (5), Adam Lipscomb, Jeff Mayes, Cole Davis, Nick Turner and Colin Rivard (1)
RUNS BATTED IN: Cole Davis (16), Jeff Woods (14), Michael Fidler and Jeff Mayes (12)

PITCHING
APPEARANCES: Jeff Woods, Aron Okamoto and Chris Roycroft (3)
INNINGS: Tomas Aguilar (11.0), John Barnes (9.2) and Jacob Stockman (9.0)
WINS: Tomas Aguilar (2) and seven others (1)
SAVES: Dan Heiden and Austin Wiskow (1)
STRIKEOUTS: Kyle Blunt (8), Chris Roycroft and Michael Fidler (5)
EARNED RUN AVERAGE (min 7 innings): Dan Heiden (1.12), Kyle Blunt (1.29) and Tomas Aguilar (1.64)
RECORD: Tomas Aguilar (2-0) and six others (1-0)
 
UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan baseball team comes on Friday, March 17 when they travel to the Wheaton College Round Robin Tournament. AU takes on St. Mary's University (Minn.) (11:00 a.m.) and Calvin College (2:00 p.m.) in Carol Stream, Illinois.