PLYMOUTH, Wis. – Aurora University scored three times in the top of the eighth inning to break open a scoreless game in extra innings, and the Spartans would go on to sweep Lakeland University in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference softball doubleheader on Good Friday.

The Spartans prevailed 3-0 in the first game in eight innings and then rolled to an 8-1 win in the second game. The Muskies took their first two losses in conference play this season and dropped to 9-7 overall (2-2 NACC) while Aurora improved to 9-9 overall and 5-1 in the NACC.

Lakeland's offense was as frigid as the 37-degree temperatures on a sunny but cold and crisp day. The Muskies combined for just nine hits over the two games and rarely took advantage when they did get runners on base, stranding 16 runners over the two games.

Both teams' offenses were stifled in the fast-moving first game, with Aurora starter Madelyn Buske and Skylar Hall (Jr.-Negaunee, Mich.) allowing a combined six hits through the first seven innings. Neither team advanced a runner past second base in that time, and Hall struck out eight batters and was in control the few times the Spartans threatened. She worked out of threats quickly in the second and fourth innings when the guests put their first two runners on base, and in the seventh struck out the final two hitters after Aurora put a runner at second with one out.

The Spartans put the leadoff runner on in the eighth when Faith Biggs worked the count full and then walked after a trio of Hall pitches were ruled to have just missed the zone. Jordan Seyfried then singled to put runners and first and second, but Jemma Fiehweg lined out and then Tyler Chambers hit a pop-up on the infield that was ruled an infield fly. The ball popped away from first baseman Paige Kislow (Weston, Wis.), and Biggs took off for third and scored on a throwing error. Lexi Rayborn then followed with an RBI single and Kionna King added an RBI double, the only extra-base hit of the game for either team.

Hall finished allowing seven hits and three unearned runs, while Buske earned the win with the eight-inning shutout, allowing four hits. The Muskies stranded seven runners in the first game, and would leave nine on base in the second game.

The Spartans scored twice in the third inning of the second game to take the lead, and then tallied three times in the fourth without a hit. A leadoff walk again spelled trouble, as did a passed ball and two errors in the inning resulting in three unearned runs.

Lakeland scored its lone run of the day in the fourth. Haylee Dodd (Fr.-Kenosha, Wis.) registered the Muskies' first hit of the game with a one-out infield single, swinging away and just getting a piece of a ball that stopped halfway between the pitcher and home plate. Carlie Morrow (Fr.-Menasha, Wis.) followed with a single and freshman Sydney Meyer (Crown Point, Ind.) then recorded her first collegiate hit, singling through the right side to score Dodd to make it 5-1.

Aurora came back with a run in the fifth and added two more in the sixth to pull away. Madi Johnson (Jr.-Vernon Hills, Ill.) pitched a complete game and allowed eight hits and eight runs (five earned). Peyton Harlow (Fr.-La Porte, Ind.) was the lone Lakeland player to record multiple hits on the day with singles in both games.

The Muskies are right back in action Saturday, traveling to face Concordia University Chicago for a doubleheader in River Forest, Ill., starting at noon.