Game one of the 2023 NCAA Division III Baseball Regional Tournament between the Spartans of Aurora University and John Carroll University lived up to the pregame hype with strong pitching, defense and timely hitting on both sides. AU defeated John Carroll 3-2 in a game played in 1:59 with the Spartans coming from behind to win. Justin Sartori hit a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning which proved to be the difference while Jack Fisher tossed 8-1/3 innings of ball for the win.


Game Score: #3 Aurora University 3, John Carroll University 2
Record: Aurora University 40-4 overall
Location: Montgomery, Illinois - Jim Schmid Field
Postgame Interview: View now


- The visitors from John Carroll scored first with two outs in the first inning with a solo home run from Justin Hanley.
- Spartan starter Jack Fisher settled in while JCU starter Matthew Aukerman held AU hitless through 2-2/3 innings.
- With two outs in the third, Spartan Sean Rivera singled and moved to third on a balk and throwing error by Aukerman but he was left stranded
- In the fourth, JCU got a second solo home run of the day, this one from Jack Harmon and led the AU Spartans 2-0.
- AU struck in the fifth and ended a lengthy scoreless streak from Aukerman.
- Three singles in the inning from Collin Meinert, Nico Bermeo and Jacob Ambuel saw the Ambuel single score Meinert with the first AU run.
- The frame ended when Justin Sartori scalded a ball to Connor Mayle at third who made a tremendous play to end the AU threat.
- AU would tie the game in the sixth with a lead-off double from Jett Wedekind. He would score on a sac fly from Tyler Patton and tie the game. The Patton sac was after a lengthy at bat and battle with Aukerman. 
- In the seventh, JCU went to the bullpen for Aukerman with Henry Darrow coming on.
- The game remained knotted 2-2 heading to the bottom of the eighth.
- On the fourth pitch leading off the eighth, Sartori hammered a fastball on the outer half over the right field fence and gave AU a 3-2 lead.
- Fisher would allow a single before getting a strikeout in the ninth inning. He was lifted in favor of Carlos Garcia.
- Garcia got a game ending 5-4-3 double-play on his second pitch and AU was victorious in the Regional opener 3-2.


HITTING
HITS: Justin Sartori (2)
HOME RUN: Justin Sartori (1)
DOUBLE: Jett Wedekind and Justin Sartori (1)
RUNS: Justin Sartori, Jett Wedekind and Collin Meinert (1)
RUNS BATTED IN: Justin Sartori, Tyler Patton and Jacob Ambuel (1)

PITCHING:
APPEARANCES (innings): Jack Fisher (8.1) and Carlos Garcia (0.2)
DECISIONS: Jack Fisher (win 9-1) and Carlos Garcia (save, 5)
STRIKEOUTS: Jack Fisher (6)