The Spartan baseball team took on Benedictine University in the 2021 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference South Division Tournament Final on Sunday night in Lisle, Illinois. The Spartans scored nine runs in their final three at bats to eliminate the Eagles and advance in the NACC tournament to the Championship Series next weekend.

GAME INFORMATION
Game Boxscore 
Game Score: #11 Aurora University 11, Benedictine University 5
Record: Aurora University (35-6 overall)
Location: Lisle, Illinois - Benedictine University (host)

GAME HIGHLIGHTS -
- The Spartans got the scoring started early with two in the bottom of the first.
- A one out double from Jett Wedekind was followed up by two BU errors and a Jacob Ambuel single for the offense in the frame.
- BU scored twice in the top of the second and took the lead with a run in the third as AU starter Carter Turnquist was lifted for the Spartan bullpen.
- A BU home run in the fifth found the Spartans trail 4-2.
- With one out in the sixth, the Spartans got singles from Collin Meinert, Jacob Ambuel and Nico Bermeo with walks to Justin Sartori and Josh Reinhardt following. 
- AU was into the BU bullpen and led 5-4.
- BU scored once to tie the game in the top of the seventh and Spartan pitcher Jack Fisher got out of a bases loaded jam to keep the game tied 5-5.
- Wedekind led off the bottom half of the inning with a walk and three singles (Dylan White, Jacob Ambuel, Justin Sartori) between outs gave AU a 6-5 lead. The Sartori single off the BU pitcher forced the second pitching change of the inning. Josh Reinhardt welcomed the new arm with a two-run single and AU led 8-5.
- In the eighth, Corey Vondra led off and reached when he was hit. With one out and Vondra on second, he appeared to be picked off but was able to beat the throw from the third baseman back into second. A couple pitches later he would score on a Dylan White single and AU now led 9-5. The Benedictine third baseman was ejected following the run scoring single as well.
- Ambuel doubled in White and would then score on a successful first and third double steal. AU now led 11-5.
- Spartan reliever Nathan Smith shut the door in the ninth with three consecutive ground outs to Collin Meinert at shortstop.
- AU won 11-5 and celebrated a NACC crown for the second time in a week on the Benedictine infield.

SPARTAN LEADERS - 
HITTING
HITS: Jacob Ambuel (4)
RUNS: Dylan White and Jacob Ambuel (3) and Jett Wedekind (2)
RBI'S: Josh Reinhardt (3), Jacob Ambuel and Nico Bermeo (2)
DOUBLE: Jett Wedekind and Jacob Ambuel (1)

PITCHING:
APPEARANCES (innings): Carter Turnquist (2.0), Seth Gutknecht (3.0), Jack Fisher (2.0) and Nathan Smith (2.0)
DECISIONS: Jack Fisher (win 2-0) and Nathan Smith (save, 2)
STRIKEOUTS: Jack Fisher and Nathan Smith (2)

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