The Aurora University baseball team split a key NACC doubleheader that had ramifications on the national and regional levels as well. AU fell in game one at No. 1 Concordia Chicago 8-1 and then won game two 6-5.
GAME INFORMATION – Friday, April 26
Game One Score: #1 Concordia University Chicago 8, Aurora University 1
Game Two Score: Aurora University 6, #1 Concordia University Chicago 5
Records: Aurora University (25-8 overall and 12-4 in the NACC); #1 Concordia University Chicago (30-4 overall and 17-1 in the NACC)
Location: River Forest, Illinois
SPARTAN HIGHLIGHTS - GAME ONE
- AU scored first in the third inning when
Davis Purviance delivered a two-out solo home run.
- CUC answered with a run in the bottom of the inning.
- Down 2-1 in the fifth, the Spartans loaded the bases with two outs but left all three runners stranded.
- AU would fall by an 8-1 final but left runners on in multiple innings.
TOP PERFORMERS - GAME ONE
HITS: Seven Spartans (1)
RUNS: Davis Purviance (1)
RBI: Davis Purviance (1)
HOME RUN: Davis Purviance (1)
SPARTAN HIGHLIGHTS - GAME TWO
- AU wasted no time in jumping on the Cougars in game two, collecting three singles and
Jett Wedekind driving in
Jeff Mayes and
AJ Gill for a 2-0 lead.
- Spartan starter
Carter Turnquist kept the vaunted CUC offense off balance and AU added a run in the fourth.
- A
Cole Davis single scored
Colin Rivard for the third AU tally.
- In the fifth the Spartan defense stepped up with two on and no outs, Turnquist induced a grounder to Rivard at third. Rivard stepped on third and fired across the diamond for a 5-3 double-play.
- With two outs in the sixth, Davis singled and came flying around the bases on a
Bryan Larsen double and AU led 4-0.
- CUC scored a pair in the bottom of the sixth on a home run.
- The Spartans showed true grit as the answered the CUC blow with two runs of their own in the seventh.
Davis Purviance walked and later scored on a
Paul Dobravec single with Dobravec scoring on a
Colin Rivard single.
- AU led 6-2 in the eighth when Turnquist was lifted for reliever
Nicholas Mathey with two on and one out.
- Mathey struck out the first batter he faced on a 12 pitch battle but a three-run home run followed and AU led just 6-5. Mathey got a strikeout to get out of the inning with AU still leading.
- In the ninth, Mathey struck out the first two Cougars before getting a pop out to Purviance in center for the 6-5 victory.
TOP PERFORMERS - GAME TWO
HITS: Jeff Mayes (3)
RUNS: Six Spartans (1)
RBI: Jett Wedekind (2)
DOUBLE: Bryan Larsen (2)
WIN: Carter Turnquist (5-2)
SAVE: Nicholas Mathey (8)
STRIKEOUTS: Carter Turnquist (5) and
Nicholas Mathey (4)
APPEARANCE (Innings): Carter Turnquist (7.1) and
Nicholas Mathey (1.2)
UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan baseball team comes on Sunday, April 28Â when they host Edgewood College. First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m. at Lee Pfund Stadium in Carol Stream, Illinois.