The Aurora University baseball team opened the 2026 season on a chilly day at Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana against DePauw University and Heidelberg University. AU won the opener over DePauw 6-1 and fell 5-4 in game two to Heidelberg.


Game One Score: Aurora University 6, DePauw University 1
Game Two Score: Heidelberg University 5, Aurora University 4
Record: Aurora University 1-1 ; DePauw University 1-1 ; Heidelberg University 2-1 overall
Location: Grand Park, Westfield, Indiana


Game One:
- Little action in the first gave way to two Spartan runs in the second.
- Senior Tyler Patton lead of the season with a double down the left field line. Then two more seniors in Nick Czarnecki and Ryan Buck doubled and singled gave AU the 2-0 lead after two innings. 
- In the bottom of the third, Joe Lukancic led off with a single, then two consecutive errors from DePauw allowed Zack Tarrant and Kyle Mack on base.
- The second error on DePauw allowed Lukancic to come around and score, building AU lead to now three runs.
- AU came out in the fourth looking for more when Buck reached on a third Tiger error, Matt Washington then singled to center to put runners on first and second.
- A single from Isaac Goddard to load the bases and a Lukancic single up the middle scored Buck and advanced everyone one base. 
- Spartan opening day starter Connor Hogan went six shutout innings, only allowing two hits and one walk. He had six strikeouts to add on top.
- A Washington walk then Lukancic single allowed Washington to score, AU now leading 5-0.
- DePauw scored their one and only run of the game in the top of the seventh.
- Pinch hitting for the Spartans in their half of the eighth was Alex Panico. Who after singling himself, Lukancic brought him in with another RBI single. 
- The Spartans brought in Edgar Barba in relief where he gave up only one run with six strikeouts in only three inning of work.
- AU won game one of the day 6-1 over DePauw.

Game Two
- The game stayed scoreless for the first two innings.
- A Lukancic single and back-to-back Mack and Patton doubles scored both Lukancic and Mack.
- Heidelberg answered back in the bottom of the inning when they scored two runs of their own to tie the game at 2-2.
- A Buck double was closely followed by a Panico RBI single to put AU back on top 3-2.
- Another Buck double in the sixth was followed by singles from Washington and Panico, with Buck scoring on the latter. 
- A three run Heidelberg eighth inning put them on top 5-4.
- AU made several adjustments in the ninth but came up empty.
- The Spartans would fall 5-4 to Heidelberg.


Game One
Hitting
HITS: Joe Lukancic (4)
DOUBLE: Tyler Patton and Nick Czarneckin(1)
RUNS: Joe Lukancic, Tyler Patton, Nick Czarnecki, Ryan Buck, Alex Panico and Matt Washington (1)
RUNS BATTED IN: Joe Lukancic (3) 
 
PITCHING:
APPERANCES (innings): Conner Hogan (6.0) and Edgar Barba (3.0)
DECISIONS: Conner Hogan (win, 1-0) and Edgar Barba (save, 1)
STRIKEOUTS: Conner Hogan and Edgar Barba (6)
 
Game Two
HITS: Tyler Patton (3)
DOUBLE: Tyler Patton (3)
RUNS: Joe Lukancic, Ryan Buck, Kyle Mack and Matt Washington (1)
RUNS BATTED IN: Tyler Patton and Alex Panico (2)

PITCHING:
APPERANCES (innings): Drew Piaskowy (5.2), CJ Cazares (1.1) and
DECISIONS: JImmy Bluemling (loss, 0-1)
STRIKEOUTS: Drew Piaskowy (4)


Next scheduled action for the Spartan baseball team comes on Saturday, February 28 when they play Illinois College. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. in Decatur, Illinois at Millikin University.