PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Aurora University's Justin Sartori singled in the go-ahead run with two outs in the top of the ninth inning and the Spartans completed spoiling Lakeland University's baseball home opener with a 7-6 win to finish a doubleheader Monday afternoon.
Aurora also defeated the Muskies 11-1 in the first game of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference twinbill. The Spartans continued to establish themselves as one of the teams to beat in the NACC this season, improving to 17-4 overall and 7-1 in conference while Lakeland dropped to 11-8 overall and 3-4 in conference play.
After twice having their first home games postponed by wet and cold spring weather, the Muskies were finally welcomed with pleasant temperatures and even some sunshine for their first games at home after 17 straight games away to start the season. And after struggling in a first game where Aurora pulled away late with nine runs over the final three innings, Lakeland was in solid position to finish with a split until the final two innings.
Sartori's single through the hole between third base and shortstop in the ninth inning scored Corey Vondra with what proved to be the winning run in the second game. Aurora capped a comeback from a 6-3 deficit going into the eighth inning that also included three runs to tie in the eighth.
Lakeland had rallied from an early 3-0 deficit to take the lead behind the hitting of
Lane Sobieski (
So.-Berlin, Wis.) and
Tyler LaMack (
So.-Pewaukee, Wis.) and outstanding work in relief from
Alex Mikula (
So.-Orland Park, Ill.).
Sobieski posted a career-best three hits going 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs batted in, and LaMack drove in three runs including a two-run home run in the seventh inning, his second homer of the doubleheader.
Mikula also provided a boost with his work in relief of starter
Jack Banks (
Sr.-Mountain View, Calif.). Mikula came on in the second inning and proceeded to throw six scoreless innings, allowing just two hits in that time before surrendering a hit and a walk to open the eighth. Mikula departed but the Spartans' rally continued with three runs in the inning, two charged to Mikula and the other to reliever
Gio Ramirez (
Sr.-Chicago, Ill.).
Aurora's ninth inning opened with a single by Vondra, who then moved to third with nobody out after an errant pickoff throw by Ramirez. Ramirez recovered to strike out Jett Wedekind and induced Dylan White into a short fly to right, but Sartori delivered his fifth hit and fifth RBI of the day for the game-winner.
The Spartans led from the third inning on in the opening game, but were ahead just 2-1 heading into the sixth, with the Muskies' run coming on a solo homer by LaMack to right field in the fourth. Aurora scored twice in the sixth, though, and added four more runs in the seventh and three in the eighth to finish the game out in eight innings due to the ten-run rule.
Spartans pitcher Bryce Miller pitched a complete game and allowed four hits with five strikeouts.
Collin Schutz (
Sr.-Saint Amant, La.) started and kept Lakeland in the game for most of his outing before taking the loss, allowing ten hits and seven runs (four earned) over 6 1/3 innings.
The Muskies are home again for the next games Thursday when they welcome Maranatha Baptist University for a non-conference doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
