The Aurora University Spartan softball team opened Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play at Benedictine University Friday afternoon. The Spartans dropped a heartbreaker in game one 6-5 in 8 innings before falling in game two 9-2.

GAME INFORMATION – Friday, April 2
Game One - Boxscore | Game Two - Boxscore
Game One Score: Benedictine University 6, Aurora University 5 - 8 innings
Game Two Score: Benedictine University 9, #25 Aurora University 2
Records: Aurora University (15-3 overall and 0-2 NACC)
Location: Lisle, Illinois
 
SPARTAN HIGHLIGHTS - GAME ONE 
- Hannah Tomasko continued her dominance in the circle, not allowing a run over the first six innings with getting out of a bases loaded jam in the fifth.
- The AU offense was quiet though as they only had two hits in the first five innings.
- In the sixth the offense broke through with two runs. Tyler Chambers singled and scored on a single from Brianna Lewis.  Lewis scored later in the inning on a sac fly from Aly Teixeira.
- Bryanna Perez homered in the seventh to give the Spartans a 3-0 lead.
- In the seventh, Tomasko saw her scoreless streak come to an end at 45 innings when BU scored three times to tie the game.
- In the eighth, Lexie Rayborn and Delilah Aguirre each homered to give AU a 5-3 lead.
- After two quick outs in the bottom of the inning, an error allowed the inning to be extended. A single, walk and double followed and AU would fall 6-5.

TOP PERFORMERS - GAME ONE
HITS: Brianna Lewis (2)
RUNS: Five Spartans (1)
RBI: Five Spartans (1)
HOME RUN: Bryanna Perez, Lexie Rayborn and Delilah Aguirre (1)
DOUBLE: Bryanna Perez (1)
LOSS: Hannah Tomasko (8-1)
STRIKEOUTS: Hannah Tomasko (3)

SPARTAN HIGHLIGHTS - GAME TWO
- BU took a 2-0 lead in the third inning.
- The Spartans got a run back in the fourth with Delilah Aguirre driving in Ally Vogel who ran for Aly Teixeira.
- BU added two runs in the fifth to lead the Spartans 4-1.
- Lexie Rayborn singled to score Brianna Lewis in the top of the sixth.
- BU added five runs in the sixth to lead by the eventual final score 9-2.

TOP PERFORMERS - GAME TWO
HITS: Brianna Lewis (2)
RUNS: Brianna Lewis and Ally Vogel (1)
DOUBLE: Faith Biggs (1)
LOSS: Taylor Shaw (3-1)
STRIKEOUTS: Taylor Shaw (3)

UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan softball team comes on Monday, April 5 when they host Benedictine University. Game one is set for 3:00 p.m. at Bedrosian Stadium in Montgomery, Illinois.