Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

The SU softball team took one of two games against Hanover on Wednesday, moving to 7-10 on the season.
 
Spalding 3 – Hanover 5
The Lady Eagles fell in their first game of their doubleheader against Hanover, 5-3. The SU offense combined for five hits in the game and starter Kelci Flener (2-7) pitched a solid seven innings, giving up four earned runs on six hits and seven strikeouts.
 
Hanover didn't hesitate to get on the board, scoring in the top of the first. An errant throw by the catcher, Callie Howard, allowed Danielle Merrick to reach second and Gabrielle Ritchey to score from second, giving Hanover the early 1-0 lead.
 
SU would take the lead in the second though, scoring two runs in the inning. A lead off solo homerun by the clean-up batter Kelsey McDowell tied the game, 1-1. Later in the inning with two outs, an RBI single by Alyssa McAfee to right field plated Kelci Flener from third and gave SU the 2-1 lead heading into the third.
 
Hanover would quickly regain the lead the following inning. A two RBI double by Danielle Merrick and an RBI single up the middle by the following batter, Tori Wilson would give Hanover the 4-2 lead.
 
Hanover would extend that lead in the sixth with a lead off solo homerun by Shelby Overton, extending the Hanover lead to 5-2.
 
SU would knock on the door in the bottom of the seventh. A lead off solo homer by Brooke Lamon over the left field fence reduced the Hanover lead to 5-3. The next batter, Callie Howard would reach on a hit by pitch, bringing the tying run to the plate. But three straight outs would leave Howard stranded and give Hanover the 5-3 victory.
 
Spalding 18 – Hanover 13
The SU offense would come alive in their second game of the doubleheader, combining for 22 hits and 18 runs to defeat Hanover, 18-13 in the rematch.
 
Alyssa McAfee (2-0) got the win, pitching 4.1 innings, giving up four earned runs on eight hits and one strikeout.
 
A two run first inning for Hanover lead to a seven run bottom half of the inning for SU. With runners on first and second and no outs, Peyton French singled to center, bringing in Alyssa McAfee for SU's first run of the game. Next to bat would be twin sister, Paige French, who would follow up with an RBI double that plated Brooke Lamon for the second run. Kelsey McDowell would keep the streak going, bringing in the third run on an RBI groundout to the second baseman, giving SU the 3-2 lead. Later in the inning still with just one out, another RBI groundout to the second baseman by Sara Owens brought in Paige French and SU's fourth run. That would bring Callie Howard to the dish, who would single up the middle, scoring two more runs. SU would score its final run of the inning after a pitching change, when another single up the middle by Alyssa McAfee brought Howard across the plate, and gave SU the early 7-2 lead heading into the second.
Hanover and SU would trade runs in the second inning, but SU would extend their lead in the third. After a two run top half of the third by Hanover made the score 8-5 after a two RBI double by Mattie Varvel, SU would answer with a five run third inning. The first two runs of the inning would be scored off a two-run homerun by Brooke Lamon. After the French sisters both reached base, Kelsey McDowell would bring them both in on a double down the left field line. Later in the inning with runners on first and third, McDowell would score the fifth run of the inning from third on a throw down to second base as Becca Mouser was caught stealing. SU would end the third leading Hanover, 13-5.
 
Another five run inning in the fourth would give SU a comfortable 18-5 lead, with three RBIs coming from a Becca Mouser triple, and an RBI each coming from Katy Flanagan and Sara Owens.
 
Hanover wouldn't throw in the towel yet, scoring eight runs of their own in the fifth, reducing the SU lead, 18-13. However, pitcher Cortney Miller would shut the Hanover offense down in the final two innings, giving SU the 18-13 victory.
 
The SU softball team will take on Eureka College in a doubleheader Saturday, March 29 starting at 12:00 p.m. EST at Jeffersontown High School.