The Aurora University baseball team remain at .500 to start the year as they split two game series at Millikin. The Spartans fell in game one 5-1, then climbed back to defeat the Big Blue 4-3 in game two on the back of 7-2/3 no-hit innings from junior Drew Piaskowy.


Game One Score: Millikin University 5, Aurora University 1
Game Two Score: Aurora University 4, Millikin University 3
Record: Aurora University 2-2 ; Millikin University 5-3
Location: Decatur, Illinois


Game One:
- AU put the ball in-play in the first inning but ultimately couldn't find a hole.
- Millikin struck first-in-the-bottom of the first, going up 1-0 early.
- The Spartans responded back in the top-of-the-third when Isaac Goddard doubled and later scored to tie the game at 1-1.
- Two hits for Millikin in the bottom of the inning granted them three runs. They now lead 4-1 after three innings.
- The rest of the contest featured little action until the Big Blue scored their final run of the game in the eighth inning.
- AU would fall in game one, 5-1.

Game Two
- Both teams pitching took control early on in this game two.
- That was until Zack Tarrant lead off the fourth inning with a single for the Spartans.
- Senior Tyler Patton then muscled a line drive RBI double through the wind to put AU on top 1-0.
- Through four innings of work, AU's starting pitcher Drew Piaskowy had four strikeouts, and still hadn't allowed a hit.
- Millikin put up a fight in the bottom-of-the-sixth, but Piaskowy kept on going, continuing to hold on to his no-hit bid.
- Piaskowy added another strikeout in the seventh, bringing his total to seven on the day, no-hit bid still intact.
- AU's half of the eighth inning saw them create a 4-0 lead over Millikin.
- The Spartans got two quick outs, but a Joe Lukancic single started the rally. 
- A double from Tarrant set up Patton for his sixth double in just four games, this one for two RBIs.
- Kyle Mack then forced a Big Blue error and allowed Patton to come around to score.
- After collecting two quick outs in the bottom-of-the-eighth, a Spartan error, then Millikin walk, forced the hand of AU to change pitchers.
- Piaskowy finished his day with 7 2/3 innings of work, walking four, striking out seven, and not allowing a single hit. 
- Consecutive Millikin hits score three runs, two of which were credited to Piaskowy as unearned.
- AU had three base runners in the ninth but came up empty.
- The Spartans hang on to win game 4-3 on the back of a stunning pitching performance from their starter.


Game One
Hitting
HITS: Ryan Buck (2)
DOUBLE: Isaac Goddard(1)
RUNS: Isaac Goddard(1)
 
PITCHING:
APPEARANCES (innings): Conner Hogan (7.0) and Jacob Maza (1.0)
DECISIONS: Conner Hogan (loss, 1-1)
STRIKEOUTS: Conner Hogan (3)
 
Game Two
HITS: Joe Lukancic, Zack Tarrant, Tyler Patton, and Alex Panico (2)
DOUBLE: Tyler Patton (2)
RUNS: Zack Tarrant (2)
RUNS BATTED IN: Tyler Patton (3)

PITCHING:
APPEARANCES (innings): Drew Piaskowy (7.2) and Noah Schlup (1.1)
DECISIONS: Drew Piaskowy (win 1-0), Noah Schlup (save 1)
STRIKEOUTS: Drew Piaskowy (7)


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.