CONWAY, Ark. – The Spalding University baseball team fell to North Park University, 6-5. The loss drops the Golden Eagles to 1-1, while North Park improves to 1-1. Josh Smith (1-0) picked up the victory, while Javier Guerra (0-1) was hit with the loss.
 
Transfer Jeff Thompson had a solid game, going 2-for-3 with a double, RBI, and run scored. Matt Harper went 2-for-3 with a double and RBI. Austin Drake went 1-for-5 with two RBI, and Nic Chafin was 2-for-4 with a run batted in.
 
Spalding took an early 1-0 lead on a Chafin single. North Park came back with one of their own in the bottom of the fourth. The Vikings took the lead in the sixth with three runs, all coming with two outs. Spalding would tie it up in the next half inning with three runs of their own, thanks to singles from Thompson and Drake, and took the lead in the eighth on the Harper double. However, they couldn't hold on, as the Vikings tied it back up on a throwing error by Kam Bruner. The Vikings sealed the win in the bottom of the ninth on a wild pitch by reliever Javier Guerra.
 
The Golden Eagle Nine are back in action this afternoon in a showdown against Hendrix College. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 pm EST.