JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – The Spalding University softball team split a double-header with MacMurray, winning the first game 11-4, while dropping the second, 13-11. The Golden Eagles record now stands at 8-16 overall and 3-5 in the SLIAC. The Highlanders overall record is now 5-14, with a 5-9 mark in the conference. In the first game, Robyn Schoen (5-7) picked up the victory, while Marrisa Harris (2-6) took the loss. The second game saw Marrisa Harris (3-6) pick up the win, while Amber Kilburn (2-7) was handed the loss.
 
Alyssa McAfee led the way for Spalding, going 4-for-7 with a walk, two runs, and four RBI's. Brooke Lamon went 4-for-7 with a walk, four runs, and two RBI's, including two homeruns. Amanda Gilliland went 3-for-8 with three walks and two runs.
 
Spalding opened the scoring in the top of the first when a wild pitch brought Kaylin Rucker home to score for 1-0 lead. In the top of the second, Lamon hit a solo shot to extend the Golden Eagle lead to 2-0. The offensive surge would continue in the top of third, as the Golden Eagles would scratch across five runs. With runners on second and third, a wild pitch would advance the runners as Rucker came home. Samantha Klein would hit a RBI single to make it 4-0, Spalding. After a McAfee double, a passed ball would score Klein to make it 5-0. The bases would be loaded before a groundout got another run in. A Lindsay Hubbard single would score one more to make it 7-0. MacMurray would finally get on the board in the bottom half on a RBI groundout. In the fifth, Hubbard would hit a RBI single to stretch the lead to 8-1. The top of the sixth saw the Golden Eagles get two more runs in. A RBI double from Klein made it 9-1, Spalding. McAfee would hit a single, scoring Klein to make it 10-1. The Highlanders would score three runs in the bottom half, highlighted by a two RBI single from Shayla Boen. Spalding would pick up an insurance run in the top of seventh on a passed ball to make it 11-4. MacMurray had runners on second and third in the bottom of the seventh, but couldn't bring them home.
 
MacMurray opened the game with a bang, scoring seven runs in the bottom of the first. The onslaught was highlighted by a three-run homerun by Amanda Petersen. Spalding would find their answer in the top of the third. Shelby Kilgore would hit a RBI double, scoring Kilburn. A passed ball would see Kilgore score from second to make it 7-2, MacMurray. Gilliland would score from second on an error in left field. A RBI double from Becca Mouser would make it 7-4, Highlanders.  McAfee would follow with a two run homer, cutting the lead to just one run. Lamon would follow that with a solo shot, her second of the day, to tie the game. Spalding would take the lead in the top of the fourth. With runners on second and third, an error would score both runners to make it 9-7. MacMurray would answer in a big way in the bottom of the fifth, scoring six runs. The inning was capped off by a two-run homerun by Tiffany Hazelwonder. Another RBI single from McAfee in the top of the sixth, cut the deficit to 13-10. In the top of the seventh, Rucker would hit a RBI double, making it 13-11, but the rally would fade as the Highlanders closed the game out.
 
Spalding will be back in action Sunday, April 17^th to take on Webster in a double header in St. Louis, MO. The first game is scheduled for a 2 pm EDT start time.