The Aurora University softball team opened up their spring break trip with a 4-3 win over Emmanuel College, before wrapping up the day with a dominant 9-2 victory against Bethany Lutheran College.

Game One Score: Aurora University 4, Emmanuel College (Mass.) 3
Game Two Score: Aurora University 9, Bethany Lutheran College 2
Record: Aurora University (2-0)
Location: Winter Haven, Florida


Game One vs. Emmanuel College (Mass.)
- Both teams started strong defensively, keeping the game scoreless through the first two innings.
- AU put early pressure on Emmanuel in the first when Faith Biggs and Mia Rivera reached base, but the Spartans stranded both runners.
- Madelyn Buske worked efficiently in the circle for Aurora, striking out four batters over the first three innings.
- The Spartans broke the deadlock in the third, taking a 1-0 lead. Biggs drew a walk and Rivera reached on a fielder's choice. Nina Richards then singled up the middle, and Kelsey Oviatt followed with an RBI single to right, bringing home Rivera for the first run of the game.
- Emmanuel responded quickly, plating two runs in the fourth to take a 2-1 lead. The Saints added to their advantage in the fifth, making it 3-1
- AU answered right back in the bottom of the fifth, tying the game 3-3. Rivera reached on an error, advanced on a wild pitch, and came around to score after another defensive miscue. Reese Pozen, who had pinch-run for Richards, also scored on an outfield error, bringing the Spartans level.
- Both teams remained scoreless in the sixth inning, as Katelyn Serafin settled in for Aurora, striking out two batters and keeping Emmanuel off the board.
- In the top of the seventh, Emmanuel threatened with a leadoff single, but Serafin shut them down, retiring three straight hitters.
- The Spartans walked it off in the bottom of the seventh. Biggs led off with a single through the left side and moved into scoring position after a defensive miscue. With two outs, Oviatt hit a hard line drive to right, and an outfield error allowed Biggs to race home for the game-winning run.
- Serafin earned the win in relief, throwing 2.2 scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Aurora's defense remained perfect with zero errors, while Emmanuel committed three defensive mistakes.


Game One vs. Emmanuel College (Mass.)
HITTING
HITS: Nina Richards and Kelsey Oviatt (2)
RUNS: Mia Rivera (2) Faith Biggs and Reese Pozen (1)
RUNS BATTED IN: Kelsey Oviatt (1)

PITCHING:
APPEARANCES (innings): Madelyn Buske (4.1) and Katelyn Serafin (2.2)
DECISIONS: Katelyn Serafin (win, 1-0)
STRIKEOUTS: Madelyn Buske and Katelyn Serafin (4)


Game Two vs. Bethany Lutheran College
- AU wasted no time setting the tone in the first. Nina Richards started things off with a single, advancing to second on an error by the right fielder. Mia Rivera came around to score, and the Spartans were up 1-0.
- Alex Thiel quickly followed with a triple to right-center, driving in Richards for the second run. Kelsey Oviatt then doubled to left-center, scoring Thiel, and Aubrey Ortiz's single to second base allowed Oviatt to score, putting the Spartans up 4-0.
- The scoring didn't stop there. Rivera walked to bring home another run, and Faith Biggs walk added another, giving the Spartans a commanding 6-0 lead after just one inning.
- Bethany Lutheran answered back in the top of the second with a run of their own.
- In the third inning, Richards doubled to right-center, driving in Biggs, who had reached base earlier, to push the lead to 7-1.
- Bethany Lutheran fought back in the fourth when fielder's choice brought in a run, making it 7-2. 
- The Spartans put the game out of reach with two more runs in the bottom of the sixth. Thiel singled to left-center to bring in Reese Pozen, and Carly Clemens followed with a double to left-center that scored Thiel and made it 9-2.
- From there, AU's defense and pitching held strong, and the Spartans secured a 9-2 victory over Bethany Lutheran.


Game Two vs. Bethany Lutheran College
HITTING
HITS: Nina Richards and Alex Thiel (3) Kelsey Oviatt and Carly Clemens (2)
TRIPLE: Alex Thiel (1)
DOUBLE: Nina Richards (2),  Kelsey Oviatt, and Carly Clemens (1)
RUNS BATTED IN: Alex Thiel

PITCHING:
APPEARANCES (innings): Rylee Campbell (7.0)
DECISIONS: Rylee Campbell (win, 1-0) 
STRIKEOUTS: Rylee Campbell (2)