The Aurora University Spartan baseball team swept a road NACC doubleheader at Edgewood College on Tuesday, winning 9-5 and 12-2 (7 innings) and secured at least a first round bye in the NACC Tournament.


Game One Score:  #6 Aurora University 9, Edgewood College 5
Game Two Score: #6 Aurora University 12, Edgewood College 2 - 7 innings
Record: Aurora University (31-3 overall and 19-1 NACC)
Location: Verona, Wisconsin


GAME ONE
- The Spartans looked to be off to a fast start with back to back singles from Nico Bermeo and Jacob Ambuel but the duo were left stranded.
- Edgewood got three singles and scored one run off starter Nick Malmberg in the first but he was able to get a strikeout to limit the early damage.
- As Malmberg got settled in, Edgewood was going with a new arm per inning against the AU offense.
- In the fourth, the Spartans struck. A lead-off single from Josh Reinhardt was followed by walks to Dominick Curcio and later Sean Rivera. Spencer Ruch drove in Reinhardt with a single but Curcio was thrown out at the plate and the game was tied 1-1.
- In the fifth, the first five Spartans reached with Reinhardt walking in a run and Curcio singling to score Justin Sartori. Ruch would single and Bermeo walked in another run and AU led 5-1.
- Walks aided the Spartans in a four run sixth inning as Rivera walked in a run, Curcio scored on a wild pitch and Ruch drove in his third and fourth run of the game.
- Going to the bottom of six, AU led 9-1.
- Edgewood would get a run in the sixth before Malmberg would turn the game over to the AU pen for the final nine outs.
- A small hiccup in the ninth allowed Edgewood to score three runs but the Spartans prevailed 9-5.


GAME ONE
HITTING
HITS: Spencer Ruch (3), Jacob Ambuel and Nico Bermeo (2)
RUNS: Jett Wedekind and Josh Reinhardt (2)
RUNS BATTED IN: Spencer Ruch (4)

PITCHING:
APPEARANCES (innings): Nick Malmberg (6.0), Tyler Preissing (2.0), CJ Cazares (0.1) and Carlos Garcia (0.2)
DECISIONS: Nick Malmberg (win, 5-0)
STRIKEOUTS: Nick Malmberg (5)


GAME TWO
- The AU bats again faced the pitcher per inning plan in game two with Edgewood.
- In the second the Spartans scored three times without a hit thanks to three walks and a hit by pitch.
- More walks in the third and a single from Tyler Patton put AU up 4-0.
- Bryce Miller coasted on the bump for AU and in the third got help from his battery mate Patton who hosed back to back base stealing chances.
- After adding a run in the fourth the Spartans blew the game open in the fifth.
- Four hits, two Eagle errors and two walks in the fifth led to a five run frame and a 10-0 lead.
- Nik Panico had a triple and scored on an error on the play and Justin Sartori hit his ninth round tripper of the season, a three run blast down the right field line.
- More runs came in the sixth with two walks and a hit by pitch loading the bases for Sartori who drove in two with a single and a 12-0 Spartan advantage.
- Miller gave way to the pen for the sixth and seventh. Edgewood would score twice in the seventh but the 10-run mercy rule remained in place thanks to a pair of strikeouts from Sam Harvey.
- AU was victorious 12-2 in seven innings.


GAME TWO
HITTING
HITS: Justin Sartori (4) amd Tyler Patton (2)
HOME RUN: Justin Sartori (1)
TRIPLE: Nik Panico (1)
RUNS: Tyler Patton (3)
RUNS BATTED IN: Justin Sartori (5)

PITCHING:
APPEARANCES (innings): Bryce Miller (5.0), Brian Henehan (1.0), Max Baer (0.1) and Sam Harvey (0.2)
DECISIONS: Bryce Miller (win 4-1)
STRIKEOUTS: Bryce Miller (4) and Sam Harvey (2)