Aurora University Athletics

The Aurora University Spartan softball team opened the new Spartan Stadium on the grounds of the Spartan Athletic Park on Thursday afternoon with a doubleheader sweep of Wheaton College, winning 20-7 in 5 innings and 8-1 in game two.

GAME INFORMATION – Thursday, March 15
Game One - Boxscore | Game Two - Boxscore
Game One Score: Aurora University 20, Wheaton College 7 - 5 innings
Game Two Score: Aurora University 8, Wheaton College 1
Records: Aurora University (8-2)
Location: Montgomery, Illinois. - Spartan Athletic Park
 
SPARTAN HIGHLIGHTS - GAME ONE
- AU saw Wheaton score twice in the top of the first inning on two hits and one Spartan error.
- The bottom of the first was an inning for the record books. AU batted around two times with lead-off hitter Elaine Walker making three plate appearances including a grand slam, the first home run ever at Spartan Stadium. When all was done, AU scored 13 runs on 12 hits and left the bases loaded.
- Wheaton continued to score also, adding a run in the second and four in the third.
- But the Spartans also kept rolling on offense. AU scored four runs on five hits which included doubles from Josie Bachtell and Ashley Pittman in the second inning and then added three more runs in the fourth to put the game completely out of reach.
- AU won the opener at Spartan Athletic Park 20-7 in five innings.

SPARTAN HIGHLIGHTS - GAME TWO
- AU fell behind once again in the first inning, 1-0. The inning ended on a unique double play as Brianna Lewis (centerfield) threw out a runner trying to score at the plate. After tagging out the runner, AU catcher Ashley Pittman fired to third where Bryanna Perez tagged out the last Thunder runner to end the inning.
- In the bottom of the inning, AU got three straight singles to tie the game but would leave the bases loaded and the game tied 1-1.
- The score remained tied 1-1 into the fifth. Walker led off the bottom of the inning with a single and she scored the go ahead run later on a sacrifice fly out by Sam Owens.
- AU defense stepped up again in the top of the sixth inning as the middle infield of Walker and Bachtell turned a double-play to Owens to end the inning and completely give momentum to the Spartans.
- The Spartans ran with the momentum, scoring six runs to blow the game wide open. It all started with a one out walk to Ashley Pittman and six hits later AU led 8-1.
- AU went on to win 8-1 and sweep the opening doubleheader at Spartan Athletic Park.

SPARTAN DAY LEADERS:
HITTING
HITS: Josie Bachtell (6), Elaine Walker, Nina Tholl, Bryanna Perez and Sam Owens (4)
HOME RUN: Elaine Walker (1)
DOUBLES: Josie Bachtell (3)
RUNS: Elaine Walker (6), Josie Bachtell and Bryanna Perez (3)
RUNS BATTED IN: Elaine Walker (6), Sam Owens (5) and Josie Bachtell (4)

PITCHING
APPEARANCES (INNINGS): Hannah Tomasko (7.0), Britni Wilson (4.0) and Steph Renner (1.0)
WINS: Britni Wilson (1 - 3-1) and Hannah Tomasko (1 - 3-1)
STRIKEOUTS: Hannah Tomasko (5) and Britni Wilson (2)
 
UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan softball team comes on Sunday, March 18 when they host Wartburg College for a non-conference doubleheader with game one starting at 12:00 p.m. in Montgomery, Illinois at the Spartan Athletic Park.