Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

LISLE, Ill. - The Benedictine University baseball team appeared in front of the home crowd for the first time this season, splitting a doubleheader with Aurora on Sunday.

GAME ONE: AURORA 11, BENEDICTINE 4
Aurora never trailed in the opener, using seven runs in the final three innings to pull away and claim the opener.

The Spartans posted three straight hits in the top of the first to nab a 1-0 lead against Benedictine starter Kevin Crowley. Ryan Adams singled home the first run of the contest but the second run was thrown out at the plate. Ryan Payne's two-run double in the third padded the lead to 3-0.

Uli Ortiz put Benedictine on the board in the bottom of the inning with a two-out double to drive home Ryan Mullin. Aurora immediately padded the lead to 4-1 with a run off a double steal in the fifth. Trailing 4-2 following a Chris Wanderling RBI fielder's choice in the sixth, Benedictine allowed Aurora to net four runs in the seventh on a pair of homers to take control. Aurora netted another homer in the ninth, scoring three runs to jump up 11-2.

Benedictine plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning to account for the final margin. Ryan Mullin was the lone Benedictine player to amass more than one hit in a 10-hit showing.

GAME TWO: BENEDICTINE 8, AURORA 6
Two big innings were key in the nightcap. Benedictine plated eight runs in the third and Aurora added five runs in the fourth, but the eight runs held up in the victory.

After squandering chances in the first two innings, the Eagles broke through in a big way in the bottom of the third against Aurora starter Stephen Sitterly. Dan Zust and Uli Ortiz posted back-to-back singles before Ryan Mullin continued the string with an RBI single, scoring Zust. John Cervantes singled to load the bases. Tom Higgins made it 2-0 with an RBI single, chasing Sitterly. Nick Karakosta's RBI single made it 3-0. Tim Gindville, returning to the lineup, roped a double into the right field corner that scored two runs. The bases cleared on an errant relay throw. The final runs of the frame scored on an fielder's choice and a sacrifice fly.

Aurora immediately answered, chasing Matt Vucovich from the game in similar fashion with a five spot in the fourth. The big blow was a grand slam homer over the wall in right from Mike Foley, his second homer of the doubleheader.

Nick Mishevich was able to stop the frame and settle in, tossing 3.2 strong innings of relief to earn the win, allowing just an unearned run in the eighth. Shay Wagner earned his third save by tossing the final 1.1 innings to preserve the split.

Benedictine logged 15 hits in the victory. Ortiz, Mullin, Higgins, and Steve Cocat each notched two hits while Gindville collected three hits.

Benedictine (8-9, 2-2) made it through the opening weekend of play in the Northern Athletics Conference with an even split against the two teams picked atop the standings. The Eagles will return to action on Wednesday at the University of Chicago in a non-conference tilt at 3:00 p.m.