The Aurora University softball team wrapped up their 2024 spring trip with a standout 6-1 overall record, securing two victories on Thursday afternoon. They defeated Hiram College 7-3 and dominated Illinois College with a 9-1 win over Illinois College in just 6 innings. Throughout the seven games played, the Spartans only allowed a total of eight runs against them.


Game One Score: Aurora University 7, Hiram College 3
Game Two Score: Aurora University 9, Illinois College 1
Record: Aurora University (6-1)
Location: Kissimmee, Florida


Game One vs. Hiram College
- Hiram College took an early lead in the opening inning.
- The Spartans responded in the bottom of the third, tying the game 1-1 as Alex Thiel's double to center field brought Faith Biggs across home plate.
- AU took a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning when Casey Brennan's sacrifice fly scored pinch runner Isabell Morales.
- Hiram responded with two runs in the top of the fifth to reclaim the lead.
- The Spartans bats came alive in the bottom of the sixth. Kionna King's lead-off single to left field sparked the inning, and she later scored on a wild pitch, tying the game at 3-3.
- Freshman Aubrey Ortiz extended the lead with a single down the left field line, driving in Emma Lytton and Nina Richards. Ortiz then scored on another wild pitch.
- A wild pitch from Hiram College brought Faith Biggs home, extending the Spartans lead to 7-3 heading into the top of the seventh.
- Starting pitcher Rylee Campbell, held Hiram down in the bottom of the seventh. Campbell allowed nine hits and recorded six strikeouts over seven innings pitched.


Game One vs. Hiram College 
HITTING
HITS: Tyler Chambers (2)
DOUBLE:  Alex Thiel (1)
RUNS: Faith Biggs (2)
RUNS BATTED IN: Aubrey Ortiz (2)

PITCHING:
APPEARANCES (innings): Rylee Campbell (2.0)
DECISIONS: Rylee Campbell (win, 2-1) 
STRIKEOUTS: Rylee Campbell (6)


Game Two vs. Illinois College
- The Spartans wasted no time in the first inning, as Tyler Chambers singled and later scored on an RBI from Alex Thiel. Shelby Linn's single with two outs brought Thiel home, giving the Spartans an early 2-0 lead.
- AU kept the momentum going in the third inning, adding four more runs with RBIs from Jordan Seyfried and Emma Lytton.
- In the fourth inning, Faith Biggs drew a lead-off walk and crossed the plate on a single from Alex Thiel.
- Illinois College managed to score their lone run of the game with a homerun to left field.
- The Spartans extended their lead in the sixth inning, scoring two more runs to invoke the run rule. Faith Biggs drove in Aubrey Ortiz, who started the inning with a single, extending AU's lead to 8-1.
- Faith Biggs scored the final run on a single from Tyler Chambers.
- Pitcher Madelyn Buske concluded the Spring Trip undefeated at 4-0, facing 22 batters and allowing just five hits.
- AU celebrated a dominant 9-1 victory to cap off their spring trip.


Game Two vs. Illinois College
HITTING
HITS:Tyler Chambers (3) Alex Thiel and Aubrey Ortiz (2)
RUNS: Tyler Chambers, Alex Thiel, and Faith Biggs (2)
RUNS BATTED IN: Alex Thiel, Jordan Seyfried, and Emma Lytton (2)

PITCHING:
APPEARANCES (innings): Madelyn Buske (6.0)
DECISIONS: Madelyn Buske (Win, 4-0)
STRIKEOUTS: Madelyn Buske (4)