The Spartan baseball team hosted Illinois Institute of Technology Saturday afternoon at Schmid Field in Montgomery, Illinois. The Spartans split the doubleheader, losing game one 11-8 (11 innings) and winning game two 8-5.

GAME INFORMATION
Game 1 Boxscore  : Game 2 Boxscore 
Game 1 Score: Illinois Institute of Technology 11, #8 Aurora University 8 - 11 innings
Game 2 Score: #8 Aurora University 8, Illinois Institute of Technology 5
Record: Aurora University (19-3 overall and 3-1 NACC)
Location: Montgomery, Illinois : Schmid Field

GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS -
- The Hawks got out to an early 2-0 lead in the 1st inning on two hits.
- The Spartans were able to tie the game up in the bottom half when Justin Sartori singled to drive in one. 
- Sartori would draw a throw on his stolen base attempt and Collin Meinert would score on the play. 2-2 after one inning of play.
- In the second the Spartans would bring across three with Jett Wedekind, Josh Reinhardt, and Corey Vondra scoring on the bases.
- IIT would tie it in the 4th as the Spartans walked three batters and gave up two extra base hits.
- Spartan Josh Reinhardt broke the tie in the 6th with his double to the left field corner scoring Sartori and Wedekind. 7-5 Spartans.
- Spartan Jack Fisher in his 3+ innings of work retired the IIT hitters in order in the 7th.
- In the bottom half of the 7th AU added one more when Jacob Ambuel singled to center to drive in Vondra.
- The Scarlet Hawks would bring in a pair in the 8th on three hits and two walks to cut the Spartan lead to 8-7.
- IIT tied the game in the 9th drawing two walks and the Spartans having one error.
- The game remained scoreless until the 11th when IIT loaded the bases and would clear them with a triple to take an 11-8 lead.
- The Spartans could not get anything started in the bottom half and were defeated 11-8.

SPARTAN LEADERS - 
HITTING
HITS: Corey Vondra, Collin Meinert, Josh Reinhardt, and Justin Sartori (2)
RUNS: Jett Wedekind and Corey Vondra (2)
RUNS BATTED IN: Josh Reinhardt (2)
DOUBLE: Corey Vondra, Justin Sartori, and Josh Reinhardt (1)

PITCHING:
APPEARANCES (innings): Kyle Blunt (3.1), Jack Fisher (3.2), Alec Strupp (0.2), Seth Gutknecht (1.1), and Nathan Smith (2.0)
DECISIONS: Nathan Smith (loss 1-1)
STRIKEOUTS: Jack Fisher (6)

GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS -
- IIT scored two in the 1st inning again on one walk, an error, and one hit.
- The Spartans took the lead in the bottom half as Collin Meinert, Justin Sartori, and Jett Wedekind had RBI's in the inning.
- In the 4th IIT retook the lead on a two out double scoring two. 4-3 IIT.
- The Spartans answered in the bottom half as Paul Dobravec led off with a double and would later score on a Vondra single.
- In the 6th AU took the lead with Meinert, Sartori, and Nico Bermeo each driving in one run. 7-4 Spartans.
- IIT scored one in the 8th.
- Spartan Dylan White scored in the 8th on a fielder's choice to extending the Spartan lead to 8-5.
- Spartan Brady Kaupilla came in in the 9th and shut down IIT offense in order to get the save.

SPARTAN LEADERS - 
HITTING
HITS: Corey Vondra (4)
RUNS: Dylan White and Jacob Ambuel (2)
RUNS BATTED IN: Jett Wedekind and Collin Meinert (2)
DOUBLE: Paul Dobravec (1)

PITCHING:
APPEARANCES (innings): Josh Reinhardt (6.0), Sam Harvey (2.0), and Brady Kaupilla (1.0)
DECISIONS: Josh Reinhardt (win 2-0) and Brady Kaupilla (save, 1)
STRIKEOUTS: Josh Reinhardt (4)

UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan baseball team comes on Sunday, April 18 when they travel to Illinois Institute of Technology. Game on is set for 12:00 p.m. in Chicago, Illinois.