Softball Downed by Aurora, 10-0

PLANT CITY, Fla. – The Simmons University softball team fell to Aurora University, 10-0, this afternoon at the Randy Larson Complex in Plant City, Fla. as part of the Sunkissed Games. The Sharks fall to 1-5 on the season, while the Spartans improve to 3-3.

The game was halted after five innings due to the eight-run mercy rule.

The Aurora bats rapped out 17 hits, including multiple hits from seven different players, while sophomore starting pitcher Hannah Tomasko (Virden, Ill.) (2-1) hurled a complete-game two hitter to earn the victory.

First year catcher Shannon McMahon (El Cajon, Calif.) and rookie third base Alex Morang (Windham, Maine) were both 1-2 to lead the Simmons offense. Sophomore starting pitcher Hailey Yabroudy (Amherst, N.H.) (0-3) suffered the loss after giving up seven runs (five earned) on 12 hits and a walk in four innings of work.

Sophomore designated player Aly Teixeira (Santa Clara, Calif.) was 4-4 and knocked in three runs to go with a double to lead the Spartans, while senior first base Sam Owens (Palos Hills, Ill.) knocked in three runs and was 2-2 with a walk and a run scored. Senior shortstop Elaine Walker (Schaumburg, Ill.), senior third base Nina Tholl (Tinley Park, Ill.) and first year right fielder Mckenzie Flores (Spring Valley, Calif.) all collected a pair of hits and drove in a run apiece. Junior center fielder Brianna Lewis (Santa Ana, Calif.) was 3-3 with two runs scored and sophomore second base Bryanna Perez (Chino Hills, Calif.) finished the contest with a pair of hits in three at-bats and scored a run. Tomasko struck out four and did not allow a walk or a runner past first base to improve to 2-1 for Aurora.

The Spartans took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first behind run-scoring singles from Teixeira and Flores. Aurora tacked on two more runs in the third to double its lead to 4-0 following the top of the third inning. Owens keyed the frame with an RBI double and first year catcher Josie Lytton (Berkeley, Ill.) brought home the Spartans' fourth run with a sacrifice fly to center field.

Aurora put the game out of reach with three runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth to enact the eight-run rule. The Spartans scored a trio of runs in a variety of ways in the fourth. Lewis and Walker each reached with singles to open the frame, before both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Tholl put down a bunt to score Lewis, before Owens brought home the sixth run for Aurora with a sacrifice fly. Teixeira gave the Spartans a 7-0 advantage with a double to left field.

Walker, Owns and Teixeira all plated runs with RBI-singles in the fifth to give Aurora a 10-0 cushion after its half of the fifth inning.

The Sharks received singles from Morang in the third and McMahon in the fourth.