The Aurora University baseball team continued their road trip on Tuesday afternoon when they traveled to Rockford University for another Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference doubleheader. AU took game one over the Regents 5-3 backed by a strong performance on the mound from Conner Hogan and at the top-of-the-order from Jaden Holgado, before the bats went cold for the Spartans in a 3-1 game two loss.


Game One Score: Aurora University 5, Rockford University 3
Game Two Score: Rockford University 3, Aurora University 1
Record: Aurora University 11-10 overall and 6-2 NACC; Rockford University 11-9 overall and 2-6 NACC
Location: Rockford, Illinois

Game One
- AU did not waste any time grabbing an early lead in the top-of-the-first when Kyle Mack singled through the left side to score Jaden Holgado.
- In the bottom-of-the-second, the Regents scored two runs to take a 2-1 lead.
- In the bottom-of-the-fourth, that lead extended to 3-1 for the Regents.
- Despite giving up that run in the fourth, AU starter Conner Hogan settled in for the next three innings while not allowing any runs.
- The Spartans went on a scoring barrage in their half of the eighth, starting with a Dominick Curcio lead-off blast over the right field wall, cutting the Rockford lead to 3-2.
- AU tied the score later in the eighth when Ryan Buck singled in Joe Lukancic.
- Julian Rosales drove in the go-ahead run for the Spartans on the next batter after a ground out.
- Matthew Washington then singled home Buck to quickly extend that AU lead to 5-3.
- Justin Zimmerman took over for Hogan on the bump for the Spartans in the ninth, and closed out the Regents to seal the 5-3 AU victory.

Game Two
- Rockford took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth.
- In the top of the seventh, AU tied that score when Nick Czarnecki smacked an RBI single to left center that scored Ryan Buck.
- The Regents got that run back plus another in their half of the seventh to hand AU a 3-1 deficit.
- The AU offense threatened for more in their half of the eighth, but could not get any runs across and fell 3-1 in game two.
- Despite receiving the loss, Spartan starter Justin Zimmerman allowed just three runs in his six innings pitched, one of which was earned.


Game One
HITTING
HITS: Jaden Holgado, Joe Lukancic and Kyle Mack (2)
HOME RUN: Dominick Curcio (1)
RUNS: Jaden Holgado, Joe Lukancic, Kyle Mack, Dominick Curcio, Ryan Buck and Matthew Washington (1)
RUNS BATTED IN: Kyle Mack, Dominick Curcio, Ryan Buck, Matthew Washington and Julian Rosales (1)

PITCHING:
APPEARANCES (innings): Conner Hogan (8.0) and Justin Zimmerman (1.0)
DECISIONS: Conner Hogan (W, 3-0) and Justin Zimmerman (Save, 1)
STRIKEOUTS: Conner Hogan (5) and Justin Zimmerman (2)

Game Two
HITTING
HITS: Julian Rosales (3)
DOUBLE: Kyle Mack (2)
RUNS: Ryan Buck (1)
RUNS BATTED IN: Nick Czarnecki (1)

PITCHING:
APPEARANCES (innings): Justin Zimmerman (6.0) and Adrian Ruiz (2.0)
DECISIONS: Justin Zimmerman (L, 5-2)
STRIKEOUTS: Justin Zimmerman (4) and Adrian Ruiz (2)