Spartans Drop Rematch with Oshkosh at NCAA Tournament

AURORA, Ill. May 10, 2008 - In a rematch of the opening game of the 2008 NCAA Division III Softball Championships at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire , the Aurora University Spartans took on the Titans of the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh in an elimination game on Saturday, May 10, 2008 at Gelein Field in Eau Claire , WI .

AU starting pitcher, junior Nicole Capone retired the Titans in the first inning, despite an error by junior shortstop Beth Okrie. Capone struck Titan clean up hitter, freshman shortstop Sydnee Wyss, out to end the inning.

Oshkosh senior pitcher Amy Sullivan struck out the side in the bottom half of the first inning. Sandwiched in between the strikeouts was an Abby Young (junior designated player) single to center.

The Titans would scratch across a run in the second inning off Capone. Titan freshman outfielder Kayla Kodet led off the inning with a single to right and was then sacrificed to second. Following a strikeout for Capone, junior first baseman Ashley Steltenpohl drew a walk which was quickly followed up by back to back hit by pitches and giving Oshkosh a 1-0 lead. Spartan sophomore pitcher Anna Snyder came in to relieve Capone and retired the first Titan she faced on a fly out to center.

Neither team showed much offense in the third inning and the Titans struck again in the top of the fourth inning. With two outs, sophomore outfielder Amie Heinzelman, after fouling off numerous Snyder pitches, homered to left center field, giving Oshkosh a 2-0 lead, one they would not relinquish.

AU would not go down without a fight though, leading off the bottom of the fourth inning, junior outfielder Nikki Veen hit a long home run to left field, cutting the Titan lead, and eventual final score, to 2-1.

The Titans Sullivan would end the Spartan rally in the fourth and was then relieved by fellow senior pitcher Ronessa Stampfli in the fifth inning. Stampfli continued her dominance of the Spartans, striking out seven of the nine AU hitters she would face, giving her 23 strikeouts in 10 innings against AU.

Snyder matched Stampfli, striking out eight Titans in five and one-third innings pitched.

Both teams could only muster two hits apiece in the contest as the four pitchers in the game combined for 20 strikeouts on the afternoon.

AU was led by Nikki Veen’s one for three performance that included a home run, run scored and one run batted in and Abby Young was one for three with a single.

With the loss, AU concludes the 2008 season with a 37-8 overall record, the Spartans were 23-1 in the Northern Athletics Conference, including regular season and tournament champions.