MONTGOMERY, Ill. – The Edgewood College Eagles softball squad entered their final week of regular season competition Wednesday. They battled with the Aurora Spartans down south in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) doubleheader. The Eagles (17-18, 7-12 NACC) hung tough with the Spartans (23-13, 15-5) but fell shy in 6-5 and 5-3 losses.

GAME ONE: AURORA 6, EDGEWOOD COLLEGE 5
- Olivia Hebert wasted no time, launching a solo home run off the very first pitch of the game. The Spartans answered with runs off a single through the left side and a double to left field to take a 2-1 lead after one.

- Hebert struck again in the third, stealing third before taking home thanks to an error by the catcher. A pair of singles through the left side and up the middle put Aurora ahead 4-2 after four.

- Edgewood College forced their way back into the game in the fifth and seventh. A sacrifice fly from Kya Loffswold in the fifth scored one, while two errors in one play in the seventh tied things back up. Alyse Maurer scored the go-ahead run for the Eagles with a single to right field.

- The comeback effort was not to be, however. The Spartans took advantage of early runners on base in the bottom of the seventh to score two, one off a single to left center followed by a walk off sacrifice fly to left field.

- Hebert put together an impressive showing, hitting four-of-four with three runs and an RBI. Maurer also had a pair of hits.

- Gaby Slater tossed a complete game in the loss, allowing only six runs.

GAME TWO: AURORA 5, EDGEWOOD COLLEGE 3
- The Spartans decided it was their turn to start the scoring with a home run. A two-run shot past the outfield wall kicked things off in the second inning.

- Aurora added on a two-run single up the middle in the fourth and a triple to right center to lead 5-0 after five.

- The Eagles mounted a strong comeback effort in the last two innings with a pair of home runs. Jenna Sanchez scored Hebert with a two-run blast to left field, while Grace Ott started the seventh with a solo shot. Edgewood College would load the bases with small ball and Hebert being intentionally walked, but a strike out and a fly out ended the threat.

- Both pitchers had strong outings. Tatum Duff threw a complete game with eight hits allowed and only one walk, while the Spartans staff held the Eagles to five hits total.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Hebert's home run was her ninth of the season. She leads the NACC in home runs and is one shy of tying the single-season record for the Eagles.

- The Spartans have a 38-0 lead in the all-time series over Edgewood College.

- The two home runs in game two matched a season high for the Eagles.

UP NEXT
Edgewood College enters their final weekend of regular season play. They kick things off with a doubleheader at Alverno on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for noon in Milwaukee, Wis. The Eagles hold a 27-11 lead in the all-time series and swept last year's doubleheader.