GAME ONE
GAME TWO
AURORA, Ill. -- The Benedictine University softball team had its 20-game win streak stopped by Aurora University on the road Wednesday afternoon but kept alive its hopes for its first ever Northern Athletics Conferene title by posting a split, winning game two in extra innings.
AURORA 4, BENEDICTINE 2 -- GAME ONE
Aurora opened a 4-0 lead, but a late Benedictine rally brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh before the host Spartans held on for the victory.
Aurora broke open a scoreless game with a pair of runs in the fourth inning. A two-out triple ignited the rally and a hit by pitch was awarded on a 3-2 pitch to keep the inning alive as Brooke Spencer reached. Coryn Hill doubled to right-center to clear the bases and put Aurora ahead.
The Spartans tacked on single runs in the fifth and sixth off Benedictine hurler Brittany Adcox to push the lead to 4-0. The Eagles rallied with two outs in the seventh to bring the tying run to the plate. Sam Corban and Brittany Adcox singled to put riunners at first and second for Steff Rybarczyk. Rybarczyk doubled to left, scoring both runner, but Aurora retired the next hitter to hand Benedictine its first NAC loss of the season, halting a 20-game win streak.
Adcox was 3-for-3 at the plate but took her second loss of the season, allowing four runs on eight hits to go with three strikeouts. Sam Corban posted two of the six hits for the Eagles. Coryn Hill drove in three for Aurora.
BENEDICTINE 9, AURORA 6 -- GAME TWO (Eight Innings)
Benedictine rallied from an early 6-1 deficit to win in extra innings.
The Eagles carried momentum from the seventh inning rally of game one to score a first inning run against the Spartans. Laura Christensen reached on an error to start the game and scored on a two-out single by Erin Galloway.
Starter Sam Corban did not post a single out in the bottom of the inning as Aurora scored five runs to take a 5-1 lead. Lisa Rybak entered in relief and was able to stop the bleeding, allowing just a second inning homer to Maggie Cooper which extended the advantage to 6-1. Rybak threw four innings of relief.
Benedictine began to rally in the third. With two outs Cassie Capetto singled home a run. Moments later Erin Galloway belted her fourth homer of the season, going deep to center. The Eagles pulled within 6-5 in the fourth. Brittany Adcox singled and was replaced at first on a fielder's choice by Steff Rybarczyk. Jess Fijolek doubled to cetner to score Rybarczyk and chase Aurora pitcher Lindsay Decker from the game.
The Eagles knotted the score in the sixth inning and left the go-ahead runs at second and third. Kara Walsh drove in a run by reaching on an error. Benedictine placed runners at second and third in the seventh inning with only one out but could not push across the go ahead.
Three runs plated in the extra inning as Benedictine finally was able to break through. Laura Christensen reached on an error and Brittany Wolski followed with a bunt single. After a sacrifice, Cappetto drove home both runners with a single and later came around on a single by Sam Corban. Brittany Adcox, who threw the final three innings, posted the win for the Eagles, working around a hit in the bottom of the eighth.
Eight different individuals posted hits for the Eagles. Cassie Cappetto and Erin Galloway each tallied two hits and three RBIs. Laura Christensen scored three times out of the leadoff slot.
The doubleheader split keeps Benedictine one game ahead of Aurora with four games to play. The Spartans (28-7, 18-2) were beaten in their NAC opener by Rockford.
Benedictine (30-5, 19-1) plays at Marian on Friday in a makeup doubleheader from a contest rained out on Saturday. The Eagles, who have already clinched a slot in the NAC Tourney next weekend hosted by Alverno, close the season against MSOE on Sunday.
