The 2021 softball season arrived with the Aurora University Spartans having to wait 367 days between last playing and AU started this season where they left off last, winning. The Spartans swept a doubleheader at Monmouth College, winning 4-0 and 8-0.

GAME INFORMATION – Sunday, March 7
Game One - Boxscore | Game Two - Boxscore
Game One Score: Aurora University 4, Monmouth College 0
Game Two Score: Aurora University 8, Monmouth College 0
Records: Aurora University (2-0)
Location: Monmouth, Illinois
 
SPARTAN HIGHLIGHTS - GAME ONE 
- The Spartans threatened in the first with singles from Jemma Fiehweg and Aly Teixeira but were unable to push a run across.
- A lead-off walk started the second for AU and with two outs, Brianna Lewis singled in Kaylee Underwood and Tyler Chambers.
- The two runs are all that starter Hannah Tomasko would need as she scattered three hits and struck out 10 over seven innings in the circle.
- In the third, Josephine Lytton led off with a single and stole second. With two outs, she scored when Lexie Rayborn reached on an error.
- Fiehweg, Lytton and Teixeira worked to manufacture a run. Fiehweg led off and was hit by a pitch before Lytton reached on a sacrifice bunt that turned into an error. Teixeira then grounded into a fielders choice that allowed Fiehweg to score and AU led 4-0.
- Tomasko controlled the final innings in the circle as AU won, 4-0.

TOP PERFORMERS - GAME ONE
HITS: Aly Teixeira (2)
RUNS: Jemma Fiehweg, Josephine Lytton and Kaylee Underwood (1)
RBI: Brianna Lewis (2)
WIN: Hannah Tomasko (1-0)
STRIKEOUTS: Hannah Tomasko (10)

SPARTAN HIGHLIGHTS - GAME TWO
- The Spartans put up runs right away in game two with Brianna Lewis and Fiehweg both reaching on a single to start the game. One out later, Teixeira singled to drive in both Spartans and AU led 2-0.
- In the third, AU added a run without a hit. Josephine Lytton was hit by a pitch and Teixeira walked before they pulled off a double steal. A Lexie Rayborn sac fly scored Lytton and AU led 3-0.
- Pitcher Taylor Shaw kept the Monmouth hitters off balance also, allowing five scattered hits and struck out five in seven innings of victorious work.
- In the fourth, AU scored four times on three hits with a Josephine Lytton two-run double being the big hit of the frame.
- The game remained 7-0 Spartans heading into the seventh.
- A single from Delilah Aguirre and Monmouth error allowed AU to push across an eighth run.
- Shaw closed the door in the bottom of the inning as AU was victorious 8-0.

TOP PERFORMERS - GAME TWO
HITS: Brianna Lewis (3)
RUNS: Jemma Fiehweg, Josephine Lytton and Brianna Lewis (6)
RBI: Aly Teixeira and Josephine Lytton (2)
DOUBLE: Josephine Lytton (1) 
WIN: Taylor Shaw (1-0)
STRIKEOUTS: Taylor Shaw (5)

UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan softball team comes on Tuesday, March 9 when they play a doubleheader with Franklin College. Game one is set for 1:00 p.m. (cst) / 2:00 p.m. (est) in Franklin, Indiana.