EUREKA, Ill. – The Spalding University softball team split a doubleheader at Eureka College Thursday night, falling 3-2 in the day game, but bounced back to win the nightcap, 11-2. SU moves to 12-18 on the season and 9-7 in conference.  

In the first game, the Golden Eagles were held scoreless through the first four innings falling behind 3-0. SU scored a pair of runs in the fifth, but couldn't complete the rally falling, 3-2.

Brook Conder led the Eagles with a pair of the hits and Alyssa McAfee had SU's only RBI.

Kelci Flener (7-8) took the loss allowing three runs, one earned, on six hits, striking out four and walking one.

The Red Devils took a 1-0 lead the first when Ashley Paige singled down the right field line driving in Krysten Wallace from third. Eureka added a pair of runs in the fourth pushing their lead to three runs. A throwing error by Flener allowed Paige to advance to third and Natlie Martindale singled to bring her across the plate, and Katie Lowery followed with a single to bring in Deidra Whightsil.

The Eagles mounted a rally in the top of the fifth inning cutting the deficit to one run. Brooke Conder single to the five-hole and Kaylin Rucker followed with a double down the left field line to put runners in scoring position with no outs. A passed ball allowed the runners to advance putting SU's first run on the board. Alyssa McAfee brought Rucker home with a sacrifice fly to right field to make the score 3-2. Spalding would put runners on base in each of the next two innings, but they wouldn't advance past first as SU's rally fell short.

The Eagle bats woke up in game two driving in 11 runs on 14 hits to take the nightcap, 11-2.

Alyssa McAfee and Amanda Gilliland each tallied a trio of hits, while Becca Mouser drove in four RBIs.

Courtney Miller (2-4) earned the win, holding the Red Devils to two runs, on seven hits, with one strikeout and no walks.

The Golden Eagles spotted Eureka a run in the first before reeling off 11 unanswered runs taking an 11-1 lead. In the top of the second, Kaytlyn Mitchell singled to third driving in Amanda Gilliland to knot the score at 1-1. The Eagles took the lead in the third when Mouser singled to left field scoring Kilgore from second, and Gilliland brought Mouser in with a single to the seven-hole. From there it was all Golden Eagles. SU padded their lead with four runs in the fourth. A fielding error by the pitcher allowed Mitchell to score from third, and Mouser blasted a three-run bomb to center field to clear the bases. Spalding added four more runs in the fifth, highlighted by a two-run double by Gilliland. Eureka would score a run in the bottom of the inning, but SU went on to win the game on the eight-after-five rule.

The Golden Eagles return home for their final homestand of the season Friday, April 24 against Anderson University. First pitch is slated for 5:00 p.m. EST.