Aurora University Athletics and the Spartan baseball team officially dedicated Jim Schmid Field between games of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference doubleheader with Concordia University Chicago on Sunday afternoon. The fields namesake, Jim Schmid along with members of his AU programs and baseball alumni over many years were on hand as the Spartans swept the Cougars in a doubleheader, winning 11-1 (7 innings) and 15-9. With the two wins, current AU Head Coach Adam Stevens won his 500th career game and also surpassed the legendary Coach Schmid for third on the AU baseball all-time coaching wins list with 247 (247-105).
The Basics
Game One Score: #11 Aurora University 11, Concordia University Chicago 1 - 7 innings
Game Two Score: #11 Aurora University 15, Concordia University Chicago 9
Record: Aurora University (26-3 overall and 15-1 NACC)
Location: Jim Schmid Field at the Stuart Sports Complex - Montgomery, Illinois
How it happened
GAME ONE
- AU fell behind 1-0 in the top of the first and that was all the excitement CUC would have for game one as AU starter Nick Malmberg shut down the visitors the remainder of the day.
- The Spartan offense wasted little time scoring three times before an out was recorded.
- Justin Sartori, Jett Wedekind and Sean Rivera had run scoring singles, Dominick Curcio had a run scoring hit but pitch. AU led 5-1 after one inning.
- AU put up another five spot in the fourth inning, blowing the game wide open.
- The Spartans took advantage of a pair of defensive miscues in the infield by CUC while adding three walks and three singles. AU would bat around in the inning as well
- In the fifth, Nico Bermeo walked and moved around the bases on wild pitches, scoring on one for the 11th and final run of the day.
- Malmberg struck out the final batter he would face in the seventh as the Spartans walked off with the 11-1 mercy run rule victory.
Spartan Leaders
GAME ONE
HITTING
HITS: Jacob Ambuel and Justin Sartori (3)
RUNS: Nico Bermeo (3), Justin Sartori and Jacob Ambuel (2)
RUNS BATTED IN: Jett Wedekind and Justin Sartori (2)
PITCHING:
APPEARANCES (innings): Nick Malmberg (7.0)
DECISIONS: Nick Malmberg (win, 4-0)
STRIKEOUTS: Nick Malmberg (3)
How it happened
GAME TWO
- Just before the start of game two, legendary AU Head Coach Jim Schmid and the man that the baseball field is named after threw out an honorary first-pitch to his successor and AU baseball's all-time coach wins leader Mark Walsh. This was done in front of a group of alums, many of which played for Schmid in his 10 seasons leading AU baseball (1983-1992).
- When game two began, the Spartans jumped on the Cougars quickly, scoring five first innings runs. Batting around with five hits including a run scoring double from Derek Angelo and drawing two walks, AU led 5-0 after one inning.
- CUC scored twice in the third but AU maintained the 5-2 lead.
- A four run fourth aided by a three base error allowed the visitors to take a 6-5 lead.
- A lead off single from Dominick Curcio in the fifth started a manufacturing of the tying run when he scored. After five innings, the score was knotted 6-6.
- In the top of the sixth, CUC took an 8-6 lead on reliever CJ Cazares but the bats answered in the bottom of the inning.
- Jacob Ambuel singled to lead off and scored on a Jett Wedekind double. On the play, Wedekind used trickery in his slide to evade the tag while diving into second.
- The next four AU runs scored without the ball leaving the infield, including a single to third by Tyler Patton, a CUC balk, an rbi groundout and a CUC throwing error.
- After six, AU led 11-8.
- Once again after CUC scored once in the top of the seventh, the offense responded with another crooked number.
- Five hits in the first six batters of the inning with three being doubles scored four runs. Ambuel and Justin Sartori doubled, Wedekind laid down his first career successful push bunt and Josh Reinhardt blistered a ball through the left side of the CUC infield. Tyler Patton then destroyed a ball from a new CUC pitcher for a ground-rule double.
- AU could feel victory in their grasp as they led 15-9 after seven innings.
- Sam Harvey set down all eight Cougars he faced in relief of Cazares to secure the win for the freshman.
- The Spartans celebrated Coach Stevens 500th win, 15-9.
Spartan Leaders
GAME TWO
HITTING
HITS: Justin Sartori and Jacob Ambuel (4) and Josh Reinhardt (3)
DOUBLE: Jacob Ambuel, Nico Bermeo, Derek Angelo, Tyler Patton, Justin Sartori and Jett Wedekind (1)
RUNS: Jett Wedekind, Jacob Ambuel and Josh Reinhardt (3)
RUNS BATTED IN: Tyler Patton (3)
PITCHING:
APPEARANCES (innings): Bryce Miller (3.1), CJ Cazares (3.0) and Sam Harvey (2.2)
DECISIONS: CJ Cazares (win 3-1)
STRIKEOUTS: CJ Cazares (3)
Up Next
Next scheduled action for the Spartan baseball team comes on Wednesday, April 26 when they are scheduled to host Millikin University. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at Jim Schmid Field in Montgomery, Illinois.