(Photo by Larry Radloff, d3photography.com)

WHEATON, Il. - The Calvin baseball team fell to Aurora University 8-5 Friday afternoon in a game played on the campus of Wheaton College at Lee Pfund Field.

Calvin (0-4) scored five runs in the top of the second inning to take a 5-3 lead and held the lead until the seventh when the Spartans (10-2) scored twice to take a 6-5 advantage.

Aurora scored three runs in the bottom of the first and added a single run in the third to trail 5-4. Both teams traded goose eggs through the next three innings before Aurora scored twice in the seventh and added two insurance runs in the eighth.

Calvin collected 10 hits against the Aurora pitching staff. Junior Nate DeZwaan (Hamilton, Mich./Holland Christian HS) and sophomore Jonathan Keane (Brookfield, Wisc./Brookfield Central HS) had two hits apiece. Keane had a double and a walk on the afternoon.

Calvin's five-run second inning included an RBI single by junior Ryan Stewart (Shelby, Mich./Parkway Christian HS), a two-run single by senior Mike Kempton (Edwardsburg, Mich./Edwardsburg HS) and a two-run triple by DeZwaan.

Calvin chased Aurora starter Jacob Stockman after three innings but Chris Roycroft came on in relief to toss six shutout inning of relief for the Spartans to gain the win.

Sophomore Clay Francisco (Delton, Mich./Thornapple-Kellogg HS) went the first five innings for the Knights, strikout four and walking one. Freshman Trevor VanDuyn (Jenison, Mich./Jenison HS) took the loss in relief. Freshman Justin Paauwe (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) and sophomore Logan Walker (Imlay City, Mich./Lapeer East HS) also saw time in relief.

Calvin is back in action for two games on Saturday at Wheaton. The Knights will take on Saint Mary's of Minnesota at noon and host Wheaton at 3 p.m.