The Spartan baseball team hosted Rockford University Friday afternoon at Schmid Field in Montgomery, Illinois in the opening game of the 2021 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference South Division Tournament. The Spartans defeated the Regents 3-1 behind timely hitting and strong pitching from Nick Malmberg and Nathan Smith.

GAME INFORMATION
Game Boxscore 
Game 1 Score: #11 Aurora University 3, Rockford University 1
Record: Aurora University (33-6 overall)
Location: Montgomery, Illinois : Schmid Field

GAME HIGHLIGHTS -
- Spartan starting pitcher Nick Malmberg did not allow a hit until the fifth inning as he would toss eight innings of four hit one run baseball.
- AU got the scoring started in the first with a Jett Wedekind single and he moved all the way to third on an error by the Regent leftfielder.
- Wedekind trotted home on a wild pitch and AU led 1-0.
- The Spartans added a run in the second with a lead-off single from Jacob Ambuel. He scored on a sac fly from Josh Reinhardt.
- The game remained 2-0 until the eighth when a two-out error extended the inning and eventually scored for Rockford's only run of the game.
- In the bottom of the inning, AU got the run back with a lead-off double from Collin Meinert. Meinert scored on a single from Ambuel.
- Spartan reliever Nathan Smith closed the door in the ninth and AU won 3-1.

SPARTAN LEADERS - 
HITTING
HITS: Jacob Ambuel, Justin Sartori and Corey Vondra (2)
RUNS: Collin Meinert, Jett Wedekind and Jacob Ambuel (1)
RBI'S: Josh Reinhardt and Justin Sartori (1)
DOUBLE: Collin Meinert and Josh Reinhardt (1)

PITCHING:
APPEARANCES (innings): Nick Malmberg (8.0) and Nathan Smith (1.0)
DECISIONS: Nick Malmberg (win 8-1) and Nathan Smith (save, 1)

UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan baseball team comes on Saturday, May 15 when they travel day two of the NACC South Division Tournament hosted at Benedictine University. AU will take on #3 Illinois Tech at 2:00 p.m. in Lisle, Illinois.