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. 

Simmons will be in action again tomorrow when it plays Hood College in Plant City, Fla. at 11:00 a.m., while Aurora takes College of Saint Benedict at 11:00 a.m.