Spartans Overpower North Central in NCAA Tournament

AURORA, Ill. May 9, 2008 - The Aurora University Spartan softball team avenged two early season losses against North Central College Cardinals with an 8-0 victory in five innings in an elimination game at the 2008 NCAA Division III Softball Championships in Eau Claire, WI.

AU sophomore pitcher Anna Snyder made quick work of the Cardinals in the top of the first inning, striking out the first two Cardinals before getting a fly out to right to end the inning.

Spartan senior third baseman Dana Cebular led off the bottom half of the first for AU and reached on an error. Cebular was then thrown out attempting to steal second on a close play, on the pitch, junior outfielder Nikki Veen struck out swinging.

North Central got their first hit off Snyder in the second inning, a two out double to left from sophomore second baseman Kara Reid. She would be stranded at second when Snyder induced a ground ball that she handled herself.

The Spartans would open up the game in the bottom half of the second inning, showing the offense that AU fans have seen all year long. A lead off single by freshman outfielder Shannon Starr was followed by a sacrifice by senior first baseman Julie Beenes, moving Starr into scoring position on second base.

With one out, sophomore designated player Briana Martin doubled down the left field line, scoring Starr and giving the Spartans a lead they would never relinquish. Senior second baseman Jamie Mueller followed with an infield single and with two outs, junior shortstop Beth Okrie reached on an error by the Cardinal second baseman, Reid. That allowed AU’s Cebular to come to the plate with the bases loaded following a pitching change.

A few pitches into the at bat, Cebular drove a line drive into the right centerfield gap, driving in Martin and Mueller, giving AU a 3-0 lead, but Okrie was thrown out at the plate attempting to score from first base.

Snyder retired the Cardinals in order in the third inning, allowing the Spartan offense to go back to work. And the AU offense did exactly that. A lead off walk by Veen was following by junior catcher Abby Young’s sacrifice bunt, moving Veen to second. After Starr struck out, Beenes drove in Veen with a double to left center field. Martin singled to center and Mueller following with an RBI double to left center.

North Central brought on their third pitcher of the game to face freshman Gabby Smith, who pinch hit for fellow freshman outfielder Ashley Barichello. Smith walked to load the bases and that was following by an Okrie walk, scoring sophomore Kendra Ganzer who pinch ran for Martin at third base. The inning ended when Cebular drove a one hopper to second base and AU leading 6-0 through three innings of play.

North Central showed they would not go away easily, with one out sophomore Kelli Loeffel doubled to right field, just over the outstretched arm of AU right fielder Nikki Veen. Loeffel’s double was quickly followed by senior catcher Kaylee Noll’s single to right field, giving the Cardinal’s runners on first and third with one out. But Snyder showed why she is a second-team all-region pitcher, forcing the next two Cardinal hitters into lazy fly outs to second and short to end the inning.

AU seized their chance to end the contest early, scoring two more runs in the fourth inning. Veen led off with a single to center and Young followed with a bunt base hit. After a Starr sacrifice bunt advanced the runners to second and third and sophomore Karissa Hansen pinch ran for Young at second base, Beenes singled to center, easily scoring Veen and when Cardinal catcher Noll dropped the throw at the plate, Hansen slid in, giving the Spartans an 8-0 lead.

Snyder struck out the final two hitters of the game, her fifth and sixth of the game and helping AU avenge two of their seven losses from earlier in the season. The shutout gives Snyder her sixth of the season and improves her record to 23-4.

Offensively the Spartans had 10 hits from seven different players. Beenes was two for two with a double, two runs batted in and one run scored, Mueller and Martin were both two for three with a double, one run batted in and one run scored. Veen was one for two with two runs scored and Cebular was one for three with a double and two runs batted in.

North Central could only muster up three hits off Snyder, two being doubles from Reid and Loeffel and a single by Knoll. All three Cardinals were one for two in the game.

With the win, AU improves to 36-7 on the season, while North Central’s season concludes with a 29-12 mark.

The Spartans will take on the loser of the 4:00 p.m. game between the University of St. Thomas and Simpson College at noon tomorrow, Saturday, May 10, 2008 at Gelein Field in Eau Claire, WI.