DANVILLE, Ky. --- Aurora University saw its high-powered offense limited to just six singles and a pair of walks as Washington University in St. Louis posted a 7-0 victory Friday in the opening game of the 2026 NCAA Division III Baseball Championship Danville Regional at Gary Wright Field.

The Spartans (31-13) will face regional host Centre College (31-14) in an elimination game at 10 a.m. CT Saturday morning. The winner will move on to face either Washington-St. Louis (29-11) or Piedmont University (31-13) in another elimination game at 5 p.m. CT for a spot in the regional tournament final on Sunday.

Aurora had five singles over the first five innings, but could not advance a runner past second base.

On the mound, starting pitcher Conner Hogan cruised through the first four innings, retiring the Bears in order in each frame. Hogan's bid at a no-hitter came to an abrupt end in the fifth inning, though, as leadoff hitter Shane Pellegrino singled on a 1-1 pitch to left field. Jacob Witte followed with a single through the right side, and - after a sacrifice bunt moved runners to second and third - Drew Dillon singled up the middle to plate Pellegrino and Witte to give WashU a 2-0 lead. Dillon scored on a Cooper Green sacrifice fly later in the inning to extend the lead to 3-0.

Washington-St. Louis pitcher Chase Brickley was able to work around a two-out walk in both the sixth and seventh innings as the Bears maintained their three-run advantage. 

Greene hit a two-run home run to left in the seventh inning to make it 5-0. Washington-St. Louis then turned a leadoff walk and back-to-back singles into a pair of runs as Chance Cromer scored on an Anthony Equale single through the left side. Ryan Soong then scored on a groundout to third base to make it 7-0.

Tyler Patton reached on a leadoff single in the ninth, eventually moving to third on a wild pitch and a groundout, but was stranded there as the Bears were able to get out of the frame and end the contest.

Six Spartans - Patton, Joe Lukancic, Kyle Mack, Ryan Buck, Nick Czarnecki, and Isaac Wendler - each had singles, while Patton and Matthew Washington both drew a walk.

Hogan (10-3) took the loss, allowing six runs (five earned) on six hits and a walk while striking out one while pitching into the eighth inning. Cory Macke came on in relief in the eighth and was charged with one earned run on two hits with two strikeouts.

Brickley (8-2) threw eight scoreless innings, allowing only five hits and two walks while striking out five. Owen Block pitched the ninth, conceding one base hit to the four batters he faced.

Greene had the big bat out of the No. 8 spot in the lineup, driving in three on a home run and a sacrifice fly. Dillon and Equale each had two hits, with Dillon driving in two, scoring twice, and stealing a base. Equalie also had an RBI and a stolen base.