Aurora University Athletics

The Aurora University Spartan softball team split the NACC opening doubleheader with Wisconsin Lutheran College on Monday afternoon, losing game one 3-2 and winning game two 6-5.

GAME INFORMATION – Monday, April 2
Game One - Boxscore | Game Two - Boxscore
Game One Score: Wisconsin Lutheran College 3, Aurora University 2
Game Two Score: Aurora University 6, Wisconsin Lutheran College 5
Records: Aurora University (10-6, 1-1 NACC), Wisconsin Lutheran College (6-10, 1-3 NACC)
Location: Montgomery, Illinois - Spartan Athletic Park
 
SPARTAN HIGHLIGHTS - GAME ONE
- AU fell behind 1-0 in the second inning with a pair of errors leading to the unearned run.
- The Spartans used two out luck in the third to take the lead. A double from Josie Bachtell got it started, she scored on a Nina Tholl single and Tholl later scored on a single and error from Sam Owens.
- AU saw the lead disappear in the sixth as WLC scored two times to take a 3-2 lead.
- The Spartans got base runners on in the sixth but left two stranded.
- In the seventh, it looked like the Spartans had tied the game as Elaine Walker came around on a Josie Bachtell double but the ball landed millimeters foul.
- AU fell 3-2.

SPARTAN HIGHLIGHTS - GAME TWO
- The visitors took advantage of a lead off walk to take a 1-0 lead on the Spartans.
- AU responded right away, scoring twice in the bottom of the first. Walker doubled and scored on a Sam Owens single with Owens scoring on a Bryanna Perez triple.
- In the second, AU added another run on three hits.
- The Spartans pounded out three hits in the third but only was able to push across one run for a 4-1 lead.
- WLC scored a run in the fourth and three more in the fifth to take a 5-4 lead on the Spartans.
- In the bottom of the sixth, the Spartans answered quickly. A lead off single Tholl was followed by a double from Owens. Perez then hit a sac fly to tie the game as Tholl scored.
- Tholl got the Spartan seventh inning rally started as she reached on an error. After a walk and single the bases were loaded for pinch hitter Aly Teixiera. Teixiera drove in the winning run on a 10 foot ground out with Tholl crossing the plate as the play was made at first base.
- The Spartans were successful as they grind out a 6-5 win.

SPARTAN DAY LEADERS:
HITTING
HITS: Nina Tholl (5), Elaine Walker and Sam Owens (4)
DOUBLE: Elaine Walker, Sam Owens and Josie Bachtell (1)
TRIPLE: Bryanna Perez (1)
RUNS: Nina Tholl (3)
RUNS BATTED IN: Bryanna Perez and Sam Owens (2)

PITCHING
APPEARANCES (INNINGS): Hannah Tomasko (7.0), Britni Wilson (5.2) and Steph Renner (1.1)
DECISIONS: Britni Wilson (loss - 3-2) and Hannah Tomasko (win - 4-3)
STRIKEOUTS: Hannah Tomasko (7)
 
UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan softball team comes on Thursday, April 5 when they travel to the University of Chicago. Game one of the doubleheader is set for 3:00 p.m. in Chicago, Illinois.