The Aurora University Spartan baseball team dropped game one at Rockford University 8-3 but rebounded to earn a split of the NACC doubleheader with an 11-6 game two win.

GAME INFORMATION – Sunday, April 9
Game One - Boxscore | Game Two - Boxscore
Game One Score: Rockford University 8, Aurora University 3
Game Two Score: Aurora University 11, Rockford University 6
Records: Aurora University (14-10, 4-4 NACC); Rockford University (11-11, 4-4 NACC)
Location: Loves Park, Illinois - Rivets Stadium

SPARTAN HIGHLIGHTS/HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME ONE
- Spartan pitcher Kyle Blunt got out of a self induced jam in the first inning as he allowed a pair of walks and a hit batsmen to load the bases before getting out without allowing a run.
- The second saw Blunt pull the magic act once again, stranding the bases loaded and keeping the game 0-0.
- The third inning was not as kind for Blunt as Rockford got four singles in between hit by pitches and after a pitching change brought out Tomas Aguilar, Rockford hit a grand slam to take a 7-0 lead.
- In the seventh, AU's offense came to life. A lead-off double from Cole Davis, a double from Ty Jaquez, sac fly from Cale Sparks and single from Jacob Bachio scored three runs and the Spartans trailed 7-3.
- A double and error in the eighth allowed Rockford to add a run.
- AU would fall by the 8-3 score.

SPARTAN LEADERS:- GAME ONE
HITS: Cole Davis and Michael Fidler (2)
DOUBLES: Cole Davis, Ty Jaquez and Jeff Mayes (1)
RUNS: Cole Davis, Ty Jaquez and Michael Fidler (1)
RUNS BATTED IN: Ty Jaquez, Cale Sparks and Jacob Bachio (1)
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SPARTAN HIGHLIGHTS/HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME TWO
- AU wasted no time scoring in game two with a lead off walk to Jeff Mayes and a single by Jeff Woods. Both scored on a double from Cole Davis.
- Woods singled again in the second, this time driving in a run to score Mike Cherven.
- In the third the Spartans took advantage of Rockford miscues to score two more runs without a hit in the inning. AU led 5-0.
- In the fifth, Nick Turner reached with two outs on an error and scored when Jeff Mayes singled, AU led 6-0.
- Rockford answered with four runs, getting four hits and reached on an error with two outs. After five innings, AU led 6-4.
- The Spartans added three runs in the seventh with a two run single from Cole Davis being the big blow of the frame.
- Michael Fidler relieved Jacob Stockman for AU in the seventh and Rockford manufactured a run to bring the AU lead to 9-5.
- A lead off walk to Ty Jaquez was followed by a one out single from Nick Turner. The pair scored on a single from Jeff Mayes and AU led 11-5.
- In the ninth, Rockford loaded the bases with no outs against Fidler. After a long foul ball that missed the foul pole for a grand slam by inches, Fidler worked out of the jam unharmed to seal the AU win. He earned a save with three innings of work with Stockman earning the win.

SPARTAN LEADERS:- GAME TWO
HITS: Jeff Woods (3)
DOUBLES: Cole Davis (1)
RUNS: Nick Turner (3) and Mike Cherven (2)
RUNS BATTED IN: Cole Davis (4) and Jeff Mayes (3)
WIN: Jacob Stockman (3rd)
SAVE: Michael Fidler (1st)

UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan baseball team comes on Wednesday, April 12 when they host North Central College. Game time is schedule for 3:00 p.m. at the Stuart Sports Complex in Montgomery, Illinois.