DANVILLE, Ky. --- Aurora University split a pair of games Saturday, defeating host Centre College, 10-6, before falling to Washington University in St. Louis by a 12-5 score to conclude its season at the 2026 NCAA Division III Baseball Championship Danville Regional at Gary Wright Field at Fishman Park.
The Spartans close the season at 32-14 overall.
Aurora 10, Centre 6
Saturday's first elimination game got off to a good start for the Spartans as leadoff hitter Joe Lukancic sent the third pitch of the game back up the middle for a base hit. After stealing second base and taking third on a Centre error, Lukancic scored on an RBI groundout by Zack Tarrant.
Aurora added a run in the top of the third as Isaac Wendler reached on a one-out single through the left side then scored with the aid of two more Colonel errors.
Centre responded with a run in the bottom of the third to make it 2-1, but the Spartans tacked on one in the fifth as Tarrant doubled in Lukancic and two in the seventh as Tyler Patton hit a two-run single that scored Tarrant and Wendler to make it a 5-1 ballgame.
The Colonels plated one each in the seventh and eighth innings, and could have made a bigger splash in those two frames, but ended up stranding four runners total.
Aurora took control of the game in the top of the ninth inning, plating five with two outs. Lukancic led off the inning with a single and eventually came around to score as Nick Czarnecki drew a two-out bases-loaded walk. Isaac Goddard pushed the Spartans' lead to 10-3 three pitches later when he deposited a Nolan Asher offering over the left-field fence for a grand slam.
Centre managed three runs on three hits in the bottom of the ninth to cut the deficit to 10-6, but Aurora was able to get out of a bases-loaded jam to end the game.
Lukancic was 3-for-5 with three runs scored, while Tarrant and Goddard each posted two hits and multiple RBIs. Czarnecki was held without a hit, but drew three walks.
The Colonels (31-15) hit six doubles as all nine starters managed at least one hit. The middle of the order - Aaron Lopez, Forrest Day, and Baylor Woodall - all finished with two hits.
Aurora starting pitcher Edgar Barba (7-1) picked up the win, scattering two runs (both earned) on six hits and a walk while striking out one over 6.1 innings. Relievers Jacob Maza and Noah Schlup threw the final 2.2 innings, combining to allow four runs (three earned) on six hits and a walk with a pair of strikeouts.
Centre used four pitchers, with starter Isaac Rone (5-1) taking the loss. He allowed three runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks over the first 5.1 innings.
Washington-St. Louis 12, Aurora 5
The win over Centre set up a rematch against Washington-St. Louis, which dropped into the backside of the draw after a 5-4 loss to Piedmont University in Saturday's middle game.
The Bears (30-12) wasted little time attacking Aurora pitching, scoring seven runs in the first two innings. Shane Pellegrino drove in three of those runs with an RBI single in the first and a two-run double in the second.
Aurora was able to manufacture a runin the third to avoid the shutout. A walk, a single, and pair of fielder's choices left Matthew Washington at third base. He then scored on a Zack Tarrant single to right field to make it 7-1.
Washington-St. Louis was able to tack on two more runs in the third on RBI doubles by Chance Cromer and Anthony Equale, another in the fifth as Cromer was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and two in the fifth on a Drew Dillon sacrifice fly and a Kevin Stephens RBI single to extend the Bears' advantage to 12-1.
With the run rule not in effect in NCAA Championship play, the Spartans rallied over their final three at-bats. Aurora scored two unearned runs on three hits and a WashU error in the seventh as Isaac Goddard scored on an error at shortstop and Joe Lukancic followed with an RBI single. Two more runs followed in the eighth on a Tyler Patton solo home run and a Washington RBI single to make it 12-5, but WashU closer Alex Ardemagni was able to retire the Spartans in order in the ninth to end the game.
Lukancic and Washington each had two hits and an RBI to lead Aurora offenisively, while Patton's home run accounted for the Spartans' lone extra-base hit.
Starting pitcher Cory Macke (2-1) took the loss for Aurora, lasting just one inning while allowing four runs on four hits. Five Spartan relievers combined for eight earned runs on 12 hits, four walks, and four hit batsmen, while striking out four.
Pellegrino finished 3-for-5 with one of the Bears' four doubles, three RBIs, two runs scored, and a stolen base. Equale added three hits, including a double, an RBI, and a stolen base, while Cromer was just 1-for-3 but drove in two, scored three times, drew a walk, and was hit by a pitch twice.
WashU starter Parker Guthrie (5-2) allowed just one earned run on three hits and two walks while striking out six over six innings to earn the victory.