CARLINVILLE, Ill. – The Spalding University softball team solidified their spot in the SLIAC Tournament wrapping up the regular season sweeping a doubleheader from Blackburn, 9-1 and 14-10, Sunday in Carlinville, Illinois. With the win the Golden Eagles improve to 14-20 overall and 11-7 in conference earning the No. 4 seed in this weekend's SLIAC Tournament.

Kelci Flener was dominant in the circle in game one leading the Golden Eagles to a 9-1 win. Flener struck out eight batters, allowing one run, while scattering three hits to improve to 7-9 on the season.

Amanda Gilliland led Spalding at the plate. Gilliland went 2-for-3, including her first home run of the season, and drove in two RBIs. Alyssa McAfee and Kaylin Rucker also had a solid day at the plate. McAfee went 2-for-3 with one RBI, while Rucker drove in three runs on a 1-for-3 effort.

The Golden Eagles got off to a fast start notching a pair of runs in the first inning when Gilliland hit a two run bomb that also scored McAfee.

After a scoreless second, SU added four runs in the third and three runs in the fifth to make the final score 9-1.

Despite falling behind 3-0, SU would outlast the Beavers in game two winning, 14-10.

Kelci Flener led the Golden Eagle batters going 4-for-5 with four RBIs, and Kaytlyn Mitchell drove in four runs on a 1-for-4 effort.

Courtney Miller improved to 3-5 on the season, allowing four runs, one earned, on three hits, while striking out two batters.

The Beavers struck first when Meghan Ude put them on the board with a three-run home run in the bottom of the first. However, the Golden Eagles answered immediately scoring three in the top of the second. Amanda Gilliland set the tone with a leadoff home run, Brooke Lamon followed with a double and Kelci Flener drove in Lamon with a double as well. Flener crossed the dish following an error at first base to knot the score at 3-3.

SU scored a pair of runs to take the lead in the top of the third. Flener doubled scoring Gilliland from third and Brooke Conder singled bringing in Lamon for the final run of the inning. Blackburn's Jaclyn Elmore hit a solo shot in the bottom of the inning to cut the SU lead to one run at 5-4.

Nevertheless, the Golden Eagles dropped six runs in the top of the fourth to put the game out of reach. Alyssa McAfee singled scoring Shelby Kilgore for the first run of the inning, and McAfee came home following an error at third base. Flener drove in a pair of runs with a double and Kaylin Rucker highlighted the inning with a two-run homer.

Spalding added three more runs in the top of the sixth to extend their lead to nine runs. Blackburn mounted a rally in the bottom of the sixth scoring five runs, but fell short losing 14-10.

Up next, the Golden Eagles will take on the No. 1 seed Fontbonne in the first round of the SLIAC Tournament at 5:00 p.m. EST.