Aurora rallies for game two win, sweeps baseball in NAC doubleheader

MEQUON, Wis. – Quality pitching was the theme of the day Saturday afternoon as the Aurora University pitchers outdueled the Concordia University Wisconsin staff in a Northern Athletics Conference doubleheader at Kapco Park. Aurora took game one 4-1 before rallying for an extra-inning 4-3 win in the second contest.

Two-time NAC Pitcher of the Year Drew Gay proved to be too much for the Falcons bats to handle in the opener as he was outstanding in helping deliver a 4-1 win. Gay threw eight innings, allowing just one hit, while striking out 10 in the victory. Sophomore Tyler Adams (Jackson, Wis.) was good in the loss for CUW as he went six innings and allowed just two earned, while fanning six.

The Spartans would put one run up in the second, third and sixth innings as they built a 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth inning. The Falcons pushed one across when senior Daniel Mueller scored on an RBI-groundout from sophomore Brandon Seifert (Germantown, Wis.) to cut the AU lead to 3-1. The Spartans would add one in the eighth as they went on to the 4-1 victory.

Freshman Nick Yenter (Rosholt, Wis.) tallied the lone hit in the opening game for the Falcons, while Aurora was led by Mike Foley, who finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Luke Gilbertson picked up his third save of the season for AU in the opener.

The second contest featured a pitching duel between sophomore Michael Winter (Cedarburg, Wis.) the Spartans Eric Palmer. Winter threw seven innings before exiting in the eighth and allowed just two runs, while striking out three compared to zero walks. Palmer, the reigning NAC Freshman of the Year, gave up three earned and struck out five in 6.2 innings of work. Neither pitcher factored into the decision.

Aurora (16-9, 10-4 NAC) scored first in game two when Cory Walden doubled in Tanner Oymaian in the top of the third inning. CUW had an answer as they plated a pair in the bottom of inning three on a two-RBI single from sophomore Joel Sharon (Glendale, Wis.). The Falcons would push its lead to 3-1 in the seventh inning on an RBI single from Seifert.

Aurora answered back in the top of the eighth plating two runs on a two-RBI pinch hit single from Ryan McMahon. The score would remain 3-3 until the top of the 10th when Carlos Olavarria delivered the game-winning single.

Kevin Day earned the win for Aurora as he threw two scoreless innings while Gilbertson pitched the 10th for his fourth save of the season and second of the day. Freshman Tyler Gross (Wauwatosa, Wis.) took the loss in relief for the Falcons.

Seifert paced the offense with three hits in game two, while Sharon added two hits, including a triple and totaled two RBIs. Each of the top four batters for Aurora tallied two hits in the second game.

CUW (10-16, 8-6 NAC) looks to bounce back tomorrow when they visit Benedictine University for a NAC twinbill. The games will end the Falcons streak of 17 straight played at Kapco Park and are set to begin at 2 p.m.