VERONA – The Edgewood College Eagles baseball squad played the first of their eight games in five days this week. They hosted the Aurora Spartans, ranked sixth in the latest d3baseball poll, in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) doubleheader. The Spartans (31-3, 19-1 NACC) backed up their ranking with 9-5 and 12-2 (7 innings) victories over the Eagles (18-15, 10-8).

GAME ONE: AURORA 9, EDGEWOOD COLLEGE 5
- The first few innings were promising for the Eagles. They struck first with a Dylan Carrington sacrifice fly to left field in the first. This was the only run for either squad through the first three innings in an oppressively windy doubleheader.

- The Spartans cracked things while open in the fifth and sixth innings. Errors proved to be a crucial factor. A walk, a single to right field, a single to the pitcher, and a walk scored four for Aurora in the fifth, while a walk, a wild pitch, and a two-RBI single to center field put the Spartans in a commanding 9-1 lead with seven unearned runs.

- Cooper Holewinski took advantage of the wind to send a solo shot to right field in the sixth. Ryan Ambrosy singled to center to score one in the ninth, while Joseph Kalafut wrapped things up with a two-RBI single to center field.

- Kyle Prindle was the only Edgewood College batter to reach base three times, hitting two-of-four with a walk. Connor Goodwin also hit two-of-four.

- The Eagles pitchers struggled with walks, giving Aurora nine free runners. Nick Malmberg earned the win in an impressive start, striking out five in six innings pitched with two runs allowed.

GAME TWO: AURORA 12, EDGEWOOD COLLEGE 2 (7 INNINGS)
- Aurora struck hard and fast in game two. A pair of unearned runs off a fielder's choice kicked things off in the second, while a wild pitch gave the Spartans a 3-0 advantage. A single to left field put home another in the fourth.

- Once again, Aurora poured it on in the fifth and sixth. A triple to right field batted in a run before the hitter scored off a throwing error, while a three-run home run from Justin Sartori to right field scored three more. He tacked on two more with a single to right field in the sixth.

- The Eagles took advantage of shaky pitching in the seventh to attempt to avoid the run rule. A Holewinski triple to right center scored one, while Daniel Bentivegna tallied another with a single to center field. A pitching change spelled the end for Edgewood College as they struck out with two outs on a full count with the bases loaded.

- Jackson DeChristina stood out in the tough performance, hitting two-of-two with a walk. Kyle Sagan also reached base three times, swinging two-of-three with a free pass to first.

- Bryce Miller was an unhittable force on the mound. He allowed three hits and no runs through five innings, tossing four strikeouts on 64 pitches.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The Spartans are now 26-10 in the all-time series and have won four of the last five.

- The Eagles have now lost five straight.

- 15 different pitchers featured in the doubleheader for Edgewood College, with no one tossing more than two innings pitched. Garrett Redner pitched in both games.

UP NEXT
The Eagles travel north as they continue their marathon of a final week of NACC play. They battle in a doubleheader against the St. Norbert Green Knights tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for noon. The Green Knights hold an 8-3 series lead after the two teams split a doubleheader last season.