Quinlan Milne Rojek's (Minneapolis, Minn.) single to center pushed across
Nathaniel Natividad (Oak Lawn, Ill.) for the winning run in the bottom of the tenth as the Stars completed a series sweep of the Aurora University Spartans for just the second time in Dominican University baseball program history. The Stars' game one win was highlighted by a complete-game effort by
Robert Bavone (Bellwood, Ill) as the senior improved to 2-2 on the season.
With the wins the Stars move to 9-11 overall and 3-1 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC). Dominican will return to Boomers Stadium on Wednesday, breaking from conference play, to host the University of Chicago Maroons. First pitch is slated for 5:00 p.m.
Game One: Dominican 9, Aurora 2 Trailing 2-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth, Dominican plated one run when
Joe Kukla (Chicago, Ill.) grounded into a fielder's choice with the bases loaded, allowing
Lucas McKinney (Arvada, Colo.) to score the Stars' first run of the game.
An inning later, the Stars pushed across three runs on four hits and an Aurora error.
Cody Schuster (Las Vegas, Nev.) tallied an RBI single to score
Colin Janison (Las Vegas, Nev.) before an error extended the inning, allowing
JT Hicks (Albion, Mich.) and Natividad to pick up RBI singles as the Stars pulled in front, 4-2.
The score stayed that way into the eighth when Dominican struck for five runs after another Aurora miscue in the field opened the inning. Schuster and
Mike Piotrowski (Arlington Heights, Ill.) notched two run doubles each while
Brian Costello (Norridge, Ill.) singled home Natividad after the Spartans intentionally walked Janison.
In the ninth, Bavone pitched around a leadoff single to collect his first complete game of the season and just the second of his career. In total, Bavone surrendered just two runs, one earned, on seven hits and four walks while striking out two.
At the plate, Dominican collected 12 hits, including a 3-for-3 effort from Janison while Schuster, McKinney and Hicks tallied two hits apiece.
Game Two: Dominican 5, Aurora 4 (10 Innings) The Stars saw a 4-2 lead slip away as Aurora scored a pair of runs in the top of the ninth only to have Milne Rojek deliver a two-out walkoff single in the bottom of the tenth after Natividad and Kukla both singled after two were out to start the rally.
Tyler Brown (Bartlett, Ill.) got the start for the Stars, tossing 8.1 innings in picking up no-decision before turning the game over to
Jason Gissendaner (Gurnee, Ill.) who picked up the win out of the bullpen, improving to 1-2 on the season. Brown allowed just seven hits and three walks while striking out a career-high 12 hitters.
The Stars rapped out another 12 hits in game two, including two apiece for McKinney, Hicks, Natividad and Kukla.