CONWAY, Ark. – The Spalding University baseball team defeated North Park University, 16-10, in the team's season opener getting the Golden Eagle Nine off to a 1-0 record. Jimi Keating (1-0) picked up the win, while Brent Kessinger (0-1) was hit with the loss.
 
Blake Patterson led the way for Spalding, going 5-for-6 with two doubles, four RBI, a stolen base, and a run scored. Kam Bruner went 2-for-6 with a homerun, five RBI, and two runs scored. Nic Chafin went 3-for-4 with a triple, two RBI, and two runs scored. Dillon Sievert went 2-for-6 with two RBI and a run scored.
 
Spalding got out to a quick start, scoring two runs in the first inning. North Park responded with one in the third inning to make it a 2-1 ballgame. It was all Eagles from the fifth through the seventh innings, as they broke out for two runs in the fifth, eight in the sixth, and one more in the seventh, as Jeff Thompson, Nic Chafin, Cody Milliner, and Kam Bruner all had big hits, including Bruner's grand slam homer. North Park attempted a comeback in the top of the eighth inning as they broke out for six runs. However, Blake Patterson would not let the comeback happen as he padded the lead for the Golden Eagles in the bottom half of the eighth with a three-RBI double. North Park scored three more runs in the top of the ninth but that was as close as they would get, as the Golden Eagles were victorious. Jimi Keating threw six solid innings in the win, holding the Vikings to just three hits and one run while striking out six.
 
The Golden Eagle Nine will be back in action with two games tomorrow, February 19^th as they play their second game against North Park University and one against Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas. The first pitch of game one is scheduled for 12pm EST; the second is scheduled for 3pm EST.