MEQUON, Wis. (naccsports.org) --- Aurora University used a five-run second inning to push past rival Benedictine University, 6-1, in a winner-take-all championship game Sunday at the 2023 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) Basetball Tournament at Kapco Park.
The tournament title is the seventh for Aurora (39-4) and the fourth since 2018. By winning the tournament, the Spartans receive the NACC's automatic berth in the 2023 NCAA Division III Baseball Championship. The full field will be announced on NCAA.com at 11 a.m. Monday morning. Benedictine (30-14) was third in the most recent NCAA regional rankings and will be waiting to see if their resume holds up for a potential at-large berth into the championship.
Game 11 --- Aurora 6, Benedictine 1
After working around a two-out single in the top of the first inning, the Spartans struck first. Back-to-back walks to Jacob Ambuel and Justin Sartori followed by a single through the left side by Jett Wedekind loaded the bases with just one out. Josh Reinhardt flew out to center for the second out, but Dominic Curcio drew a bases-loaded walk to score Ambuel and give Aurora the 1-0 lead. The Eagles avoided further damage as the next batter, designated hitter Tyler Patton, hit into a fielder's choice to end the frame.
Benedictine responded with a run in the top of the second. Cole Wilson doubled to left center, then came around to score on consecutive ground-ball outs off the bats of Andrew Tenison and Peter Turelli.
In the bottom half of the inning, Collin Meinert reached on a leadoff single through the left side, then moved around to third on a two-out single by Ambuel that brought Benedictine starting pitcher Eddie Wilson's day to a close. Meinert scored on a wild pitch, while Sartori was intentionally walked to set up a force at third base. Wedekind rapped an RBI single to score Ambuel followed by a two-run triple by Reinhardt. Curcio then plated Reinhardt with an RBI single, before being erased at second for the third out when Patton hit into a fielder's choice for the second consecutive inning.
The Eagles threatened to cut into the lead in the fourth after two singles and a hit batter loaded the bases with no outs. The Spartans got out of the jam after Tenison and Turelli hit back-to-back ground balls to Sartori at first base. On the first, Sartori immediately fired off a throw to Wedekind to force Bushnell out at home. On the second, he took the out at first before making another throw to Wedekind, who tagged out a sliding Brennan Fisher at the plate to complete the 3-2 double play and end the inning.
Benedictine's next best opportunity came in the seventh inning off AU reliever CJ Cazares. The Eagles loaded the bases on a one-out single by Anthony Lenza followed by a Ryan Doubek double and a Logan Gregorio walk. The threat came to an end quickly, though, when Bushnell flew out to right and Gregorio was doubled off of first base.
Aurora also had its chances to add to its total, stranding two runners each in the fourth and seventh innings.
Ambuel, Wedekind, and Meinert each had two hits to lead Aurora. Sartori was left without a hit, but drew three walks and scored a run. Curcio also drew a pair of walks in addition to his RBI single.
Benedictine was led by Bushnell, Wilson, and Lenza with two hits apiece. Doubek also reach twice - on a single and a walk.
Aurora starting pitcher Jacob Welbes picked up the win allowing just one run on five hits and a walk while striking out one. Most of that work was done after being struck by a hard-hit ball of the bat of Bushnell to open the fourth inning.
Cazares allowed just two hits and a walk while striking out three over the final three innings to get the save.
Wilson took the loss, giving up three runs on three hits and three walks in 1-2/3 innings. Nick Shelton finished out the game for the Eagles, scattering three runs on five hits and six walks while striking out five over the final 6-1/3 innings.
The teams combined to strand a total of 18 baserunners (Aurora 10, Benedictine 8).