Spartans Named NIIC Players of the Week

AURORA, Ill. March 30, 2005 - Aurora University softball player Taylor Petersen (Aurora, Ill./West Aurora HS) was named Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference Softball Player of the Week and Aurora University baseball player John Hopkins (Lockport, Ill./Lockport HS) was named Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference Baseball Player of the Week for the week ending March 27, 2005.

Petersen led the AU softball team to a 2-0 record on the week and improved the Spartans to 11-1 on the season. Petersen improved her record to 7-0 with a two-hit, nine-strikeout effort against Monmouth College (8-0 six innings). The shutout extended her scoreless streak to 39 innings. At the plate, Petersen hit .500 with three runs scored and four RBI. Currently on the year, Petersen is 8-0 with a 0.00 earned run average and 74 strikeouts in 47 innings pitched. Offensively she is hitting .375 with two home runs, 17 runs scored, and 10 runs batted in.

Hopkins helped the AU Spartan baseball team to a 2-0 record against College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) foes, Wheaton College (17-7) and Augustana College (8-3). Hopkins sparked the Spartans’ offense by batting .444 with five runs batted in and three runs scored. Currently, Hopkins is hitting .412 with a team high 18 runs scored, seven doubles, and 21 hits, while also driving in nine runs.

Next action for the Spartan softball team comes on Thursday, March 31, when they host North Central College in a non-conference double header beginning at 2:30 p.m. The Spartan baseball team is in action next on Saturday, April 2, when they travel to Eureka College for an Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference double header at O’Brien Field in Peoria, Ill. Game time is set for 12:00 p.m. (noon).

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