The Aurora University softball team kicked off their 2024 season in central Florida with a strong start. They began the trip with an 8-0 victory (6 innings) against Carlow University. Despite a setback on day two, where they fell to Heidelberg University 7-2, AU bounced back and secured a split by defeating Illinois College 11-2 (6 innings).


Game One Score: Aurora University 8, Carlow University 0 (6 innings)
Game Two Score: Heidelberg University 7, Aurora University 2
Game Three Score: Aurora University 11, Illinois College 2 (6 innings)
Record: Aurora University (2-1)
Location: Kissimmee, Florida


Game One vs. Carlow University 
- The Spartans wasted no time, scoring early in the bottom of the first inning with two outs. Alex Thiel earned a walk and scored on an RBI single by Kionna King.
- In the third inning, the Spartans took control, scoring four runs on three hits. Faith Biggs set the tone with a leadoff solo home run to left-center field. Casey Brennan followed notching her first hit as a Spartan with a double down the left field line. Alex Thiel kept the momentum going with a single to left field, advancing Brennan.
- Sophomore Kionna King then delivered her second RBI of the day with a single that brought home Brennan. Shelby Linn contributed to the scoring frenzy with a sacrifice fly, bringing in the fourth run of the inning.
- Faith Biggs extended the lead with a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning, bringing the score to 6-0 as they headed into the fifth inning.
- The last two runs were brought in by RBIs from Jordan Seyfried in the fifth inning and Kionna King in the sixth.
- Pitcher Madelyn Buske held Carlow scoreless throughout six innings, allowing three hits and seven strikeouts.


Game One vs. Carlow University 
HITTING
HITS: Kionna King (3) and Faith Biggs (2)
DOUBLE:  Casey Brennan, Shelby Linn, Jordan Seyfried, and Alyson Haegele (1)
HOME RUNS: Faith Biggs (2)
RUNS: Faith Biggs and Alex Thiel (2)
RUNS BATTED IN: Faith Biggs and Kionna King (3)

PITCHING:
APPEARANCES (innings): Madelyn Buske (6.0)
DECISIONS: Madelyn Buske (win, 1-0) 
STRIKEOUTS: Madelyn Buske (7)


Game Two vs. Heidelberg University
-The AU offense sparked early in the first inning, Faith Biggs led off with a walk and later crossed the plate on an RBI from Kionna King to go up 1-0. 
- Heidelberg responded in the top of the third inning by scoring five runs. 
- It was a defensive showdown until Heidelberg added one run in the fifth inning and another in the sixth.
- In a last-ditch effort, the Spartans scored one run in the bottom of the seventh inning in hopes of starting a rally.


Game Two vs. Heidelberg University 
HITTING
HITS:Tyler Chambers (2)
DOUBLE: Casey Brennan and Nina Richards (1)

PITCHING:
APPEARANCES (innings): Rylee Campbell (2.0) Megan Murhpy (3.2) and Talia Lorenzo
DECISIONS: Rylee Campbell (loss, 0-1) 
STRIKEOUTS: Megan Murphy (1) and Talia Lorenzo (1)
 

Game Three vs Illinois College
- AU wasted no time getting their bats going as Tyler Chambers singled to right field and then scored on a double by Kionna King in the opening frame.
- The Spartans extended their lead to 2-0 when Emma Lytton drove in Casey Brennan with a two-out double.
- Illinois College scored one run in the bottom of the third, but the Spartans quickly responded with a three-run inning in the fourth, fueled by big hits from Alyson Haegele and Tyler Chambers.
- In the bottom of the fifth inning, Illinois College added one run, making it a 5-2 game in favor of AU.
- The Spartan offense exploded with a six-run outburst in the sixth inning. Faith Biggs, Alex Thiel, Shelby Linn, and Alyson Haegele all recorded RBIs.
- Madelyn Buske got the win on the mound for AU, recording six strikeouts and only allowing six hits in 24 at bats.


Game Two vs. Illinois College
HITTING
HITS: Tyler Chambers, Casey Brennan, and Alyson Haegele (2)
DOUBLE: Kionna King, Emma Lytton, and Casey Brennan (1)
TRIPLE: Tyler Chambers (1)

PITCHING:
APPEARANCES (innings): Madelyn Buske (6.0)
DECISIONS: Madelyn Buske (2-0)
STRIKEOUTS: Madelyn Buske (6)