AURORA, Ill. - Northern Athletics Conference leader Aurora University earned a doubleheader sweep over Concordia University Wisconsin on Saturday at Solfisburg Park. The Falcons fell in the first game 10-4 before the Spartans completed the sweep via a 5-3 final.
AU entered the day with the league's top pitching staff and an offense that was perched atop several categories. The Spartans outhit the Falcons 25-18, finished a perfect 12-for-12 in stolen bases attempts, and saw their pitchers toss a combined 16 strikeouts.
Sophomore Harry Steldt (West Bend, Wis.) led the Falcons offense with four hits and two runs scored, while sophomore Beau Burgert (Oshkosh, Wis.) and senior Austin Sarauer (Campbellsport, Wis.) each drove in a run. Sarauer also drew three base on balls.
Ryan Payne and Cory Walden each finished with four hits for the Spartans (24-6, 11-3 NAC), while Josh Davidson crossed the plate three times. Davidson and Tim Mackey each finished 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts.
Game One Recap:
AU plated six runs in the middle innings of the game en route to a 10-4 victory. The Spartans then added three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to put the game out of reach.
Junior Daniel Mueller (West Bend, Wis.) went 3-for-5 in the CUW lineup, but AU countered with six players who recorded multiple hits. The Spartans also had four players score twice.
CUW (11-15, 8-6 NAC) struggled during the first four innings, mustering only five base runners. Sarauer highlighted the opening frame with a solo home run over the right field fence.
The Spartans distanced themselves in the middle innings of the game with eight singles and a home run, as they scored six of their 10 runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.
Sophomore Mathew Scasny (Pewaukee, Wis.) was roughed up for seven runs, six earned, in 5.1 innings of work while being tagged with the loss.
The Spartan's Drew Gay earned the win on the hill after striking out seven in 8.1 innings of work.
Game Two Recap:
AU's offensive showcase continued into the first four innings of game two. The Spartans scored all five of their runs in those frames en route to a 5-3 victory.
Steldt recorded two of the Falcons nine hits in the game and scored a run, but nine strikeouts hampered the Falcon cause.. Freshman Tyler Adams (Jackson, Wis.) started his first game of the year for CUW, but took the loss.
Tanner Oymaian led the Spartans with a 2-for-3 performance and two runs scored. Eric Palmer stayed perfect on the year (6-0) after fanning eight batters in 6.0 innings on the bump. Chris Skiniotes earned his sixth save of the season after throwing 1.1 innings of shutout ball.
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CUW returns to its home diamond, Kapco Park, on Sunday for a NAC doubleheader against Benedictine University starting at 1 p.m.
