AUBURNDALE, Fla. – The Spalding University baseball team fell to Beloit College, 8-7, Saturday morning at the Matt Russ Invitational in Auburndale, Fla. The win improves the Buccaneers to a 2-6 overall record. The loss drops the Golden Eagles to a 9-4 overall record. Colton Lopez (1-0) picked up the win, while Cole Slamko (1-2) was hit with the loss.
 
Blake Patterson had a solid game, going 2-for-5 with three RBI, including a two-run triple that brought the Eagles within one in the top of the ninth. Kam Bruner went 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. Dillon Sievert went 2-for-5 with a solo home run. Cody Milliner went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.
 
The Golden Eagles drew first blood in this one as they scored two in the top of the first inning on a pair of RBI groundouts from Bruner and Patterson. They added to their lead in the second on the Sievert homer. The Buccaneers got on the board in the third on a solo home run from shortstop Mark Christine and added another in the fourth on an RBI single, bringing the game within one. The Buccaneers tied it, took the lead, and broke the game open in the bottom of the seventh inning as five runs came across to score. Spalding got a run back in the top of the eighth on a Nic Chafin fielder's choice, but Beloit responded with one of their own in the bottom half, making it an 8-4 ballgame. The Eagles attempted a comeback in the ninth, as Bruner hit an RBI single and Patterson hit a two-run triple, making it 8-7. That was as close as they Eagles would make it, though, as the Buccaneers went on to victory.
 
The Golden Eagle Nine are back in action tomorrow, March 12^th, as they take on Concordia University Chicago in Auburndale, Florida. First pitch is slated for 12 pm EST.