The Aurora University softball team hosted Hope College in the 2017 home opener at the Stuart Sports Complex on Tuesday afternoon. AU won game one 2-1 in exciting walk-off fashion before winning game two 6-1.

GAME INFORMATION – Tuesday, March 28
Game One - Boxscore | Game Two - Boxscore
Game One Score: Aurora University 2, Hope College 1
Game Two Score: Aurora University 6, Hope College 1
Records: Aurora University (9-5); Hope College (9-5)
Location: Montgomery, Illinois. - Stuart Sports Complex

SPARTAN HIGHLIGHTS - GAME ONE
- The Spartans allowed a lead-off walk in the third inning and saw Hope score to take a 1-0 lead.
- AU pitched Cat Yanis managed to get out of potential jams in the fifth an sixth innings to preserve the 1-0 deficit.
- Through the first six innings, AU managed just one hit, a second inning double from Taylor Moore.
- Trailing by a run going into the last at bats, AU sophomore Elaine Walker delivered a long home run to tie the game on an 0-2 pitch.
- Steph Starr followed with a double and moved to third when Laura Dierking beat out a bunt.
- With one out, Josie Bachtell laid down a nice bunt that squeezed in Starr with the winning run as AU won 2-1.

SPARTAN LEADERS:- Game One
HITS: Elaine Walker, Taylor Moore, Steph Starr and Laura Dierking (1)
RUNS: Elaine Walker and Steph Starr (1)
HOME RUN: Elaine Walker (1)
DOUBLES: Taylor Moore and Steph Starr (1)
RUNS BATTED IN: Elaine Walker and Josie Bachtell (1)
WIN: Cat Yanis
STRIKEOUTS: Cat Yanis (4)

SPARTAN HIGHLIGHTS - GAME TWO
- In the first inning, Hope started quickly with back to back bunt base hits between a stolen base and a run scoring single. The visitors led 1-0. AU pitcher Britni Wilson managed to get out of the remaining jam with just the lone run allowed.
- AU and Steph Starr answered back in the bottom of the inning when Starr hit a two-out home run to left center.
- AU's Wilson and the defense got out of jams in the second and third innings.
- In the bottom of th third, Ashley Pittman singled to lead off the inning. Anni Wilson pinch ran and scored later in the inning on a single from Elaine Walker.
- Both pitchers started to coast until AU went on the offensive in the sixth. Five singles and a Hope error led to four Spartans runs and a 6-1 lead heading into the seventh.
- Hope threatened in the seventh courtesy of an error and walk but Wilson collected the final two outs for the AU win and doubleheader sweep.

SPARTAN LEADERS:- Game Two
HITS: Steph Starr (2)
RUNS: Steph Starr (2)
HOME RUN: Steph Starr (1)
RUNS BATTED IN: Elaine Walker, Steph Starr, Taylor Moore, Josie Bachtell, Lauren O'Daniell and Ashley Pittman (1)
WIN: Britni Wilson
STRIKEOUTS: Britni Wilson (4)
 
UP NEXT