Aurora University Athletics

The 2018 spring trip continued to bring winning ways to the Aurora University softball team on Wednesday as the Spartans won a pair of games, defeating Meredith College 5-0 and Penn State Berks 10-2 (6 innings).

GAME INFORMATION – Wednesday, March 7
Game One - Boxscore | Game Two - Boxscore
Game One Score: Aurora University 5, Meredith College 2
Game Two Score: Aurora University 10, Penn State Berks 2 - 6 innings
Records: Aurora University (5-1)
Location: Kissimmee, Florida. - Osceola Sports Complex
 
SPARTAN HIGHLIGHTS - GAME ONE vs. Meredith College
- AU scored four runs on five hits, all singles, while taking advantage of two Meredith errors in the bottom of the first inning. 
- Spartan freshman pitcher Hannah Tomasko held Meredith down, scattering five hits on her way to a complete game shutout.
- The Spartans added a run in the fourth inning with Ashley Pittman drawing a lead-off walk and her pinch runner Kaylee Underwood scored on an Elaine Walker double.
- AU would go on to shutout Meredith 5-0.
- Hannah Tomasko earned the shutout win, striking out eight, allowing no runs, five hits and walking one.
- Elaine Walker went two for four with a double, one run scored and one run batted in.

SPARTAN HIGHLIGHTS - GAME TWO vs. Penn State Berks
- AU fell behind 1-0 in the bottom of the second.
- The deficit was short lived though as AU got a lead off double from Elaine Walker and she scored one batter later on a double from Nina Tholl.
- The game remained 1-1 into the fifth despite both teams getting runners on base.
- In the top of the fifth, AU put up a four spot. With one out, AU got five straight hits including two doubles to score the four runs.
- AU put the game into mercy rule range in the sixth. AU nearly batted around for the second time in the day, clubbing six hits with another five consecutive hit sequence in which Tholl, Sam Owens and Bryanna Perez had back to back to back doubles.
- When the top of the sixth ended, AU led 10-1. Berks tried to extend the game in the bottom half of the inning, getting four hits but managed just on run.
- The Spartans were victorious 10-2.
- Steph Renner picked up her second win of the year, pitching six innings, allowing two runs, only one was earned, striking out two and allowing nine hits.
- Nina Tholl was four for four with two doubles, two runs scored and two runs batted in.
- Sam Owens was three for four with two doubles, two runs batted in and one run scored.
- Bryanna Perez was two for four with a double, three runs batted in and two runs scored.

SPARTAN DAY LEADERS:
HITTING
HITS: Elaine Walker, Nina Tholl and Sam Owens (4)
DOUBLES: Elaine Walker, Nina Tholl and Sam Owens (2)
RUNS: Elaine Walker and Bryanna Perez (3)
RUNS BATTED IN: Sam Owens and Bryanna Perez (3)

PITCHING
INNINGS: Hannah Tomasko (7.0) and Steph Renner (6.0)
WINS: Steph Renner (1 - 2-0) and Hannah Tomasko (1 - 2-0)
STRIKEOUTS: Hannah Tomasko (8)
 
UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan softball team comes on Thursday, March 8 when they take on Thiel College (3:45 p.m. est) and Muskingum University (6:00 p.m. est) at the Rebel Spring Games at the Osceola Sports Complex in Kissimmee, Florida.