The Aurora University baseball team continued its hot start to conference play with a dominant doubleheader sweep over Benedictine University on Wednesday afternoon at Jim Schmid Field. Behind a complete-game shutout from Conner Hogan in game one and a 14-strikeout performance from Justin Zimmerman in game two, the Spartans blanked the Eagles by scores of 4-0 and 12-0, improving to 9-8 overall and 4-0 in the NACC. Offensively, Jaden Holgado led the charge with seven hits on the day, including a home run, triple, and four RBIs in game two, while Tyler Patton and Dominick Curcio also went deep during a 10-run fifth inning in the second game of the twin bill.

Game One Score: Aurora University 4, Benedictine University 0
Game Two Score: Aurora University 12, Benedictin University 0
Record: Aurora University 9-8 overall and 4-0 NACC; Benedictine University 9-7 overall and 1-3 NACC
Location: Montgomery, Illinois - Jim Schmid Field


Game One
- Aurora wasted no time jumping on top, scoring twice in the bottom of the first inning to grab an early 2-0 lead. Jaden Holgado sparked the offense with a leadoff double to left-center. Dominick Curcio followed with a double down the right-field line, bringing Holgado home for the game's first run. Two batters later, Kyle Mack delivered a clutch two-out RBI single to left, scoring Curcio.
- Hogan made that early lead stand up through the middle innings, stifling the Benedictine bats with efficient work and some help from his defense.
- In the top of the second, the Spartans turned a key inning-ending double play to erase a leadoff Eagle single. Benedictine's best chance came in the sixth with a two-out double to right but Hogan induced a routine flyout to strand the runner and keep the Eagles off the board.
- Meanwhile, Aurora added to its lead in the bottom of the fifth. Spencer Ruch singled and eventually came around to score on a bases-loaded walk drawn by Joe Lukancic,  making it 3-0.
- The Spartans tacked on one more insurance run in the seventh inning: Holgado collected his fourth hit of the day with a one-out single and later crossed the plate on Mack's RBI groundout to extend the advantage to 4-0.
- Hogan took care of the rest with a dominant performance on the mound. The sophomore left- hander went the distance fro a complete-game shutout, scattering five hits over nine innings. He struck out eight Benedictine hitters and walked only two. Hogan fanned the final batter in the top of the ninth to slam the door, stranding a runner at second and sealing the 4-0 victory for Aurora. It was Hogan's second win of the season, and the Spartan pitching staff's first shutout of the year. 

Game Two
- The Spartans jumped out to an early lead in the first inning as Jaden Holgado launched a solo home run to center field.
- Later in the inning, Dominick Curcio scored on a wild pitch after stealing second and advancing to third on a passed ball, putting AU ahead 2-0.
- After three quiet innings, Aurora broke the game wide open in the fifth.
 Kyle Mack led off the inning with a single and later scored on an error to make it 3-0.
- With two outs, Holgado roped a 3-run triple to right center, scoring Tyler Patton, Logan Riley, and Spencer Ruch.
- On the very next pitch, Curcio  crushed a 2-run homer to right field to push the lead to 8-0.
- Aurora continued the offensive onslaught as Mack added an RBI single and Patton followed with a 3-run home run to cap a 10- run inning. 
- On the mound, Justin Zimmerman was dominant, going the distance with a 7-inning complete-game shutout , allowing just 3 hits while striking out 14 Eagles.


Game One
HITTING
HITS: Jaden Holgado (4)
DOUBLE: Dominick Curcio and Jaden Holgado (1)
RUNS: Jaden Holgado (2)
RUNS BATTED IN: Kyle Mack (2)
STOLEN BASES: Jaden Holgado (1)

PITCHING:
APPEARANCES (innings): Connor Hogan (9.0)
DECISIONS: Connor Hogan (W, 2-0)
STRIKEOUTS: Connor Hogan (8)

Game Two
HITTING
HITS: Kyle Mack and Jaden Halgado (3)
DOUBLE: Jaden Holgado (1)
TRIPLE: Jaden Holgado (1)
HOME RUN: Jaden Holgado, Dominick Curcio, and Tyler Patton (1)
RUNS: Jaden Holgado, Kyle Mack, Dominick Curcio, Tyler Patton (2)
RUNS BATTED IN: Jaden Holgado (4) Tyler Patton (3) and Dominick Curcio (2)

PITCHING:
APPEARANCES (innings): Justin Zimmerman (7.0)
DECISIONS: Justin Zimmeran (W,2-0)
STRIKEOUTS: Justin Zimmerman (14)