Spartans conclude season at NCAA Regional
WHITEWATER, Wis. -- The long and successful 2011 season for the Aurora University Spartans concluded Thursday morning at the Midwest Regional at UW-Whitewater as the University of St. Thomas Tommies defeated AU 8-3.
The Northern Athletics Conference Tournament Champs were unable to get their bats going against the Tommies.
St. Thomas jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning on AU junior starting pitcher Steve Sitterly. The first four Tommies reached on three hits and one AU error with three scoring for the 3-0 lead.
The Spartans got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning when junior outfielder Josh Davidson extended his single season record for singles and then quickly added to his season stolen base record as he swiped second. After Davidson moved to third on a ground-out, sophomore third baseman Mike Foley then singled to left to score Davidson.
St. Thomas was able to add to their lead with one run each in the fourth, fifth and sixth inning, extending the lead to 6-1.
Tommie junior pitcher Bryce Gapinski was able to keep the potent Spartan offense off balance throughout his seven inning of work. AU was able to get a second run on Gapinski in the bottom of the seventh inning. Junior first baseman Brett Van Asdlen reached on an error and advanced to second on a balk. After a groundout by Davidson moved Van Asdlen to third, senior outfielder Joe Singraber flew out to center field to score Van Asdlen.
St. Thomas answered with two runs in the eighth inning and build their lead back to six at 8-2.
The Spartans would not go quietly though, as they put together some offense in the bottom of the ninth inning. With one out, junior outfielder Ryan Adams tripled to right center field and scored when Van Asdlen hit a sacrifice fly. Davidson then got his 64th single of the season and second of the game before Singraber flew out to center to end the game.
The Spartans conclude the 2011 season with a 30-14 record and were the 2011 NAC Tournament Champions and made the schools 19th appearance in the NCAA Regionals.
Courtesy of Aurora University, Sports Information Department