Spartans Fall in First NCAA Regional Game

AURORA, Ill. May 8, 2008 - The Aurora University (AU) Spartan softball team played its opening game of the 2008 NCAA Division III Softball Championship against the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh (UWO) Titans at Gelein Field in Eau Claire, WI.

The Spartans fell to the Titans 5-0 in the opening round. AU got off to a slow start offensively against the Titans, as UWO pitcher Ronessa Stampfli struck out 16 Spartans in the game, while allowing just two AU hits, a single to center by freshman center fielder Shannon Starr in the fifth inning and an infield single by junior catcher Abby Young in the seventh inning.

AU sophomore pitcher Anna Snyder retired the Titans in order in the bottom of the first and Stampfli responded making quick work of the Spartans in the top of the second.

Oshkosh scored four unearned runs in the bottom of the second inning following an error by AU second baseman Jamie Mueller. Following the Mueller error, Oshkosh tacked on two hits and the four runs off Snyder.

Snyder settled down in the third inning, retiring the Titans after a lead off single by sophomore outfielder Whitney Tornow. After a sacrifice bunt was popped up to Young and a Snyder strikeout, Young threw out Tornow attempting to steal second base to end the third inning.

The fourth inning saw little offense from either team, as Stampfli continued her dominance of the Spartans and Snyder put down the Titans in order in the bottom half of the inning.

AU’s Starr led off the top of the fifth inning with the Spartans first hit off Stampfli, a line drive up right over the head of Stampfli and into center field. Starr would advance to second on a passed ball but was stranded by Stampfli who retired the next three Spartans (senior first baseman Julie Beenes, sophomore designated player Briana Martin and Mueller) she faced by strikeout.

Titan freshman right fielder Kayla Kodet led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a double to left field past a diving attempt by AU sophomore Karisa Hansen. Kodet scored two hitters later when UWO senior catcher Dani Olsen doubled to right center field. Snyder worked her way out of the fifth inning jam, getting a flyout for the second out and a pop fly that Snyder handled herself to end the inning.

Stampfli and Snyder made quick work of the offenses in the sixth inning, retiring both teams in order.

Spartan junior right fielder Nikki Veen grounded out to lead off the seventh inning, leading to Young’s infield single, only the second hit of the game for AU. Sophomore Kendra Ganzer pinch ran for Young and was forced at second base for the second out of the inning on a fielder’s choice by Starr and Beenes grounded out to end the game.

The Spartans fall to 35-7 on the season with the loss, while Oshkosh moves to 28-8 on the season.

Snyder saw her record fall to 22-4 on the season, pitching six innings, allowing five hits, five runs, only one earned and struck out five. Shannon Starr and Abby Young were one for three, each had a single in the game.

The Spartans will take on North Central College in an elimination game tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at Gelein Field in Eau Claire, WI.

AU will look to avenge two losses earlier this season at North Central College (9-5 and 4-3) when the two teams squared off.