Spartans Named Northern Athletics Conference Baseball Student-Athlete’s of the Week

AURORA, Ill. March 10, 2009 - Aurora University Spartan baseball had two players named the Northern Athletics Conference Baseball, Hitting and Pitching, Student-Athlete of the Week.

Junior’s, pitcher Steve Salazar (Carol Stream, IL/Glenbard West H.S.) and catcher Nate Peterson (Aurora, IL/Aurora Christian) were named the NAC Pitcher and Hitter of the Week respectively.

On the week in which the Spartans went 3-0, including a double-header sweep of nationally ranked Webster University, Salazar shutout the Gorlok’s 10-0, allowing just three hits over seven shutout innings and striking out 10.

Peterson had a strong start to his Spartan career, going three for his first three and walked the next three plate appearances. In AU's 10-0 and 7-1 sweep of Webster University, Peterson was three-for-six with a three-run home run (extended the AU game two lead from 4-1 to 7-1) and four runs batted in. He was also behind the plate for AU's 10-0 shutout in game one, completing the battery with Salazar.

The Spartan baseball team (5-0 overall) will continue the second half of the spring trip at the Russ Matt Central Florida Invitational in Winter Haven, Florida. AU will take on Loras College on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at 7:00 p.m., Coe College on Thursday, March 12, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. and University of Dubuque on Friday, March 13, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. before returning home for the northern portion of the 2009 schedule. The Spartans will host Monmouth College on Saturday, March 21, 2009 at Solfisburg Park in Aurora at noon.

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