The Aurora University baseball team was back in action, looking to avenge their first loss of the 2024 season on Thursday during their central Florida spring trip when they squared off against Bethel University in a doubleheader on Friday afternoon. After just falling in a high scoring affair in game one 10-8, the Spartans came back for a 6-1 game two win behind solid pitching and defense.


Game One Score: Bethel University 10, #10 Aurora University 8
Game Two Score: #10 Aurora University 6, Bethel University 1
Record: Aurora University 7-2 overall; Bethel University 3-4 overall
Location: Davenport, Florida


GAME ONE:
- Bethel scored in the top-of-the first for a 1-0 lead.
- With the based loaded and two outs in the bottom-of-the first, Logan Riley singled back up the middle that scored Dominick Curcio and Nico Bermeo.
- The very next batter, Tyler Patton laced a double into the right center gap making it 3-1 AU after Joe Lukancic scored.
- Nick Czarnecki kept the first inning rally going with another two-run single for the Spartans that brought Patton and Riley home.
- Still with two outs, Sean Rivera gave AU a 6-1 lead with an RBI single.
- The lethal AU offense picked up where it left off when Nik Panico smashed a double in the second inning that plated Derek Angelo.
- Lukancic later scored on a Logan Riley sac-fly, giving the Spartans an 8-1 lead after two innings.
- Bethel added one in the third and three in the fourth to trim the AU lead to 8-4.
- Bethel scored three more runs in the fifth to tie the game at 8.
- After Bethel took a 10-8 lead in the sixth, AU threatened with base runners in their bottom half of the inning, but were unable to cut into the deficit.
- AU would end up falling 10-8 in game one.

GAME TWO:
- AU broke the scoreless tie in the third inning when Nico Bermeo scored on a Joe Lukancic groundout.
- Bethel had just one hit through four innings against Spartan starter Adrain Ruiz.
- In the top-of-the fifth with a runner on second, Derek Angelo crushed a two-run homer that gave AU a 3-0 lead.
- Logan Riley got in on the fun an inning later, smacking a two-run homer of his own. Riley's third homer of the season put the Spartans ahead 5-0.
- After Ruiz ran into his first real signs of trouble in the sixth inning, CJ Cazares came out of the bullpen with bases loaded and no outs. 
- Cazares would work his way around the Bethel offense and only allow one run.
- With the score 5-1 in the seventh, Tyler Patton smashed a solo shot for his first of the year.
- This would help AU go on to the 6-1 victory in game two.



GAME ONE:
HITTING
HITS: Dominick Curcio, Joe Lukancic and Nik Panico (2)
DOUBLE: Nik Panico and Tyler Patton (1)
RUNS: Joe Lukancic (2)
RUNS BATTED IN: Logan Riley (3) and Nick Czarnecki (2)

PITCHING:
APPEARANCES (innings): Joey Pettit (4.2), Jack Fisher (2.0) and Sam Harvey (0,1)
DECISIONS: Jack Fisher (0-1 loss)
STRIKEOUTS: Joey Pettit (3) and Jack Fisher (1)

GAME TWO:
HITTING
HITS: Logan Riley (3), Dominick Curcio, Derek Angelo and Tyler Patton (2)
DOUBLE: Dominick Curcio and Derek Angelo (1)
RUNS: Tyler Patton (2)
RUNS BATTED IN: Logan Riley and Derek Angelo (2)

PITCHING:
APPEARANCES (innings): Adrian Ruiz (5.0) and CJ Cazares (2.0)
DECISIONS: Adrian Ruiz (2-0 win)
STRIKEOUTS: Adrian Ruiz (6) and CJ Cazares (1)