LAKELAND, Fla. – The Spalding University team split their doubleheader against the College of St. Scholastica, Friday afternoon in Lakeland, Fla. The Golden Eagles took game one by a score of 9-0. The win improved the Eagles to 9-2 overall, while the loss dropped the Saints to 0-1 to start their season.
 
Jimi Keating (4-0) picked up the win, while Nick Peterson (0-1) was hit with the loss. Keating threw seven stingy innings, giving up just two hits while striking out eight.
 
Dillon Sievert led the way at the plate, going 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored. Jacob Woodruff went 2-for-4 with two RBI, a stolen base and two runs scored. Kam Bruner went 2-for-4 with an RBI, stolen base, and two runs scored. Nic Chafin was 2-for-3 with a double and two runs batted in.
 
The Eagles scored early as they broke the game open right out of the gates with three runs in the top of the first inning, including a Sievert two-run single. They poured it on with five more in the second inning on hits from Woodruff, Bruner, and Chafin. It was all Keating after that, as he shut down the Saints' bats for the complete game victory.
 
Game two of the double header did not go as well for the Eagles, as they fell 20-2. The win improves St. Scholastica to 1-1 overall. The loss drops Spalding to a 9-3 overall record. Dan Hansen (1-0) picked up the victory, while Brett Champion (0-1) was handed the loss.
 
There was not much Golden Eagle pitching could do against a hungry Saints squad. Golden Eagle pitching combined to give up seven home runs on the day as the Saints' bats came alive, including a six-run second inning and an eight-run sixth inning. A bright spot for the Golden Eagles was seeing infielder Clay Kelly back out on defense, as he played his first game back in the field post-ankle injury, after DH-ing in the previous two contests.
 
The Golden Eagle Nine will be back in action tomorrow, March 11^th, as they take on Beloit College to continue their spring break trip. First pitch is scheduled for 9 am EST.