The Aurora University softball team hosted Lakeland University for a doubleheader at Bedrosian Field on Thursday afternoon, the Spartans first Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference games of the 2024 season. AU came back from an early deficit in a 5-3 game one victory, before nearly coming back again in a 6-4 game two loss.


Game One Score: Aurora University 5, Lakeland University 3
Game Two Score: Lakeland University 6, Aurora University 4
Record: Aurora University 12-3 overall and 1-1 NACC; Lakeland University 10-4 overall and 1-1 NACC
Location: Bedrosian Stadium - Montgomery, Illinois


GAME ONE:
- Lakeland took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
- AU got one run back in the third when Faith Biggs launched a ball over the center field wall for her fourth home run of the year.
- Lakeland scored one run in the top of the fourth for a 3-1 lead.
- The Spartans loaded the bases with one out in their half of the fourth. Alyson Haegele drew a bases loaded walk, allowing Kionna King to score and make it 3-2.
- The score became tied at three the next batter when Isabel Morales came around to score on an error.
- Tyler Chambers put the Spartans ahead 5-3 later in the fourth with a two-run single.
- After giving up three early runs, AU starter Rylee Campbell settled in and did not allow a run in the final three innings.
- This helped AU win game one by a score of 5-3.

GAME TWO:
- Lakeland score the game's first two runs in the top of the first inning.
- Biggs followed up her game one solo shot with another one in game two, putting the AU within one run after an inning of play.
- The score became 4-1 when Lakeland scored two more runs in the second inning.
- The Muskies added another run in the third making it 5-1.
- After Lakeland scored in the fifth, AU came back with two runs of their own on RBI doubles from Chambers and King. The Spartans trailed 6-3 after five innings of play.
- AU saw runners in scoring position with just one out in the bottom of the seventh. The Spartans cut the deficit to 6-4 after a King sac-fly.
- The Spartans were unable to scratch any more runs across in the seventh and fell in game two 6-4.


GAME ONE:
HITTING
HITS: Faith Biggs, Tyler Chambers, Alex Thiel, Jordan Seyfried and Alyson Haegele (1)
HOME RUN: Faith Biggs (1)
RUNS: Faith Biggs, Jordan Seyfried, Kionna King, Isabel Morales and Lily Komperda (1)
RUNS BATTED IN: Tyler Chambers (2), Faith Biggs and Alyson Haegele (1)

PITCHING:
APPEARANCES (innings): Rylee Campbell (7.0)
DECISIONS: Rylee Campbell (win 5-1)
STRIKEOUTS: Rylee Campbell (1)

GAME TWO:
HITTING
HITS: Faith Biggs and Tyler Chambers (2)
DOUBLE:  Kionna King, Tyler Chambers and Jordan Seyfried (1)
HOME RUN: Faith Biggs (1)
RUNS: Faith Biggs (2), Tyler Chambers and Aubrey Ortiz (1)
RUNS BATTED IN: Kionna King (2), Faith Biggs and Tyler Chambers (1)

PITCHING:
APPEARANCES (innings): Talia Lorenzo (4.1) and Madelyn Buske (2.2)
DECISIONS: Madelyn Buske (6-2 loss)
STRIKEOUTS: Madelyn Buske (3) and Talia Lorenzo (1)