The Aurora University Spartan baseball team swept the third day of the 2023 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Tournament at Concordia University Wisconsin, knocking off a pair of Eagles, with an 8-2 win over Edgewood College and a 6-2 victory over Benedictine University which forced the winner takes all if necessary game on Mother's Day. 


Game One Score: #6 Aurora University 8, Edgewood College 2
Game Two Score: #6 Aurora University 6, Benedictine University 2
Record: Aurora University 38-4 overall
Location: Mequon, Wisconsin


GAME ONE vs. Edgewood
- A four run first gave AU and starter Nick Malmberg all the runs they would need against Edgewood.
- A two-run single from Dominick Curcio and a single from Tyler Patton did the damage.
- In the second the Spartans added two more runs with two singles, two walks and a hit by pitch doing the work.
- Justin Sartori (hit by pitch) and Josh Reinhardt (walk) drove in the runs.
- Edgewood broke up the shutout bid with a run in the sixth.
- The Spartans added two more runs in the eighth with three singles in the frame.
- After 7-1/2 innings, AU led 8-1.
- Edgewood scored a run in the eighth on Malmberg before Sam Harvey came in relief and closed the door in the final 1-2/3 innings.
- AU was victorious 8-2 and advanced to take on another Eagles, this version from BU.


GAME ONE vs. Edgewood
HITTING
HITS: Tyler Patton (2)
RUNS: Sean Rivera (2)
RUNS BATTED IN: Dominick Curcio (2)

PITCHING:
APPEARANCES (innings): Nick Malmberg (7.1) and Sam Harvey (1.2)
DECISIONS: Nick Malmberg (win, 7-0)
STRIKEOUTS: Nick Malmberg and Sam Harvey (2)


GAME TWO vs. Benedictine
- The Spartans jumped out quickly, scoring three runs with a two-run double from Josh Reinhardt and a run scoring single from Dominick Curcio.
- AU added a run in the second by manufacturing the score.
- Collin Meinert led off with a walk, stole second, moved to third on a sac and scored on a rbi ground out from Nico Bermeo.
- AU threatened in the third but left two stranded on second and third.
- BU scored a run in the fourth on AU starter Bryce Miller but the Spartans still led 4-1.
- In the fifth, BU loaded the bases with one out before Miller for a huge strikeout and then turned the game over to Carlos Garcia. Garcia got out of the bases loaded jam with a fly out and AU led 4-1 still.
- Using the momentum from the pitchers, the AU bats added to the lead in the sixth. Meinert singled and scored on a Justin Sartori single and Jacob Ambuel scored on a wild pitch as the Spartas now led 6-1.
- Garcia cruised through the sixth and seventh against BU.
- The AU lead looked to be in jeopardy in the eighth as BU loaded the bases with one out before a sac fly for the second out scored a run. An infield single then loaded the bases again but Garcia got a ground out to end the threat and keep the Spartans ahead 6-2.
- In the bottom of the ninth and needing three outs to move to the if necessary game on Sunday the Spartans had to hold their breathe.
- The first two BU hitters reached before Garcia got two strikeouts and a fly out to end the game.
- AU was victorious 6-2.


GAME TWO vs. Benedictine
HITTING
HITS: Justin Sartori and Josh Reinhardt (2)
DOUBLE: Justin Sartori and Josh Reinhardt (1)
RUNS: Jacob Ambuel and Collin Meinert (2)
RUNS BATTED IN: Josh Reinhardt (2)

PITCHING:
APPEARANCES (innings): Bryce Miller (4.1) and Carlos Garcia (4.2)
DECISIONS: Carlos Garcia (win 3-0) 
STRIKEOUTS: Carlos Garcia and Bryce Miller (2)