AUBURNDALE, Fla. – The No. 10 Aurora University baseball team rallied for single runs in the sixth and eighth innings to come away with a 3-1 victory over No. 18 Wheaton College (Mass.) this morning at Lake Myrtle Sports Complex in Auburndale, Fla. as part of the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.
The Lyons dip to 0-1 following their season opener, while the Spartans improve to 8-2.
Aurora pitching scattered 10 hits and allowed just one run, while stranding 12 Wheaton baserunners.
Fifth-year senior shortstop Mike Maher (Jefferson, Mass.) was outstanding at the plate, recording his second career effort with four hits, including a double and a run batted in to lead the Lyons. Senior right fielder Tommy Ambrosone (Hopkinton, Mass.) was 2-5 with a run scored and junior first baseman Timmy Wagner (Hingham, Mass.) smacked a double. Junior righty starting pitcher Ryan McCarroll (Clifton Park, N.Y.) was the tough-luck losing hurler, allowing just two runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks in addition to fanning eight batters in six innings of work.
First year right fielder Joe Lukancic (Joliet, Ill.) helped lead the Spartans, going 2-4 with a double and a run batted in, while junior second baseman Logan Riley (Sycamore, Ill.) drove home a run in three at-bats. First year designated hitter Nick Panico (Aurora, Ill.) cracked a pair of doubles and scored a run. Senior right-handed starting pitcher Bryce Miller (Green Bay, Wis.) picked up the win to improve to 2-0 after giving up just one run on seven hits and a walk through five innings, while striking out four. Sophomore relief pitcher CJ Cazares (Aurora, Ill.) hurled two innings of one-hit relief and struck out a batter to earn the save.
Aurora looked primed to break open the 1-1 ballgame after loading the bases with no outs in the top of the sixth inning, but McCarroll was able to limit the damage and escaped the inning surrendering just one run to give Aurora a 2-1 edge. Senior left fielder Sean Rivera (Bolingbrook, Ill.) walked to open the frame, junior center fielder Dominick Curcio (Plainfield, Ill.) reached on an infield single and senior shortstop Nico Bermeo (Chicago, Ill.) was hit by a pitch to push the sacks full with no outs. Wheaton managed to cut down two runs at the plate with force outs, but an errant throw with hopes of a 1-2-3 double play, hit the runner, allowing Curcio to score the go-ahead run to make it 2-1 for the Spartans.
Aurora added an insurance run in the eighth when Bermeo reached on a fielder's choice and Lukancic came through with a two-out double to left center to bring Bermeo around to score from first base to give the Spartans a 3-1 margin.
The Lyons looked to rally in the bottom of the ninth when junior second baseman Tommy Beauregard (Salem, Mass.) reached on an infield single to open the inning and later went to third on an error to put runners on the corners with two outs. Cazares was able to get a strikeout to end the threat and the game for Aurora.
The teams traded runs in the fifth after four scoreless innings of play.
Panico ripped a lead-off double down the left field line and Riley followed with an RBI single down the right field line to put Aurora on the board with a 1-0 edge. Wheaton matched the Spartans in the bottom of the frame when Ambrosone reached on a one-out single through the left side and raced around the bases from first on a booming double to center field off the bat of Maher to pull the Lyons even at 1-1.
Wheaton returns to the diamond tomorrow when it takes on Ripon College at 12:30 p.m. at Lake Myrtle Sports Complex, while Aurora hosts Saint Mary's University on March 15 at 11:00 a.m.
