AURORA, Ill. – The MSOE softball team scored three times in the third and added another run in the fourth inning of game one to overcome an early deficit and force a doubleheader split with first-place Aurora Saturday afternoon at Stuart Sportsplex.

The Raiders (14-10, 6-6 NACC) took game one from the Spartans (15-9, 9-1 NACC), 4-3, before suffering a 4-0 setback in game two.

In the first game, Aurora struck first with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning.

In the next half inning, MSOE led off with back-to-back singles. Freshman Sara McConnell plated the first run with an RBI ground out. After a bunt single, freshman Danielle Walsh brought in another run on a suicide bunt single. Sophomore Lauren Boyle then put her team ahead 3-2 with a sacrifice fly.

Then, in the fourth inning, senior Alyssa Brueser led off with a single. Two batters later, she was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. After a walk, freshman Kailey Smith followed with a single to plate Brueser and put the Raiders ahead 4-3.

Freshman Shannon Curtis (4-5) threw six strong innings, allowing just one earned run. She scattered eight hits and walked one. McConnell came into the game in the seventh and closed out the game for her first save.

Aurora threatened in the seventh inning, leading off with a double and single to put runners at the corners. After McConnell replaced Curtis, the Spartans pulled within 4-3 with a single. McConnell then retired the next three batters to close out the win.

McConnell (8-4) started game two, allowing four runs on seven hits. She struck out four and walked one. At the plate, she had MSOE's only two hits as the offense could not get on track against AU's Natalie Zanella (7-3).

The Raiders are in action in Illinois again Sunday, playing a doubleheader at Benedictine.