ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Spalding University softball team split their doubleheader against Fontbonne University, 3-0 and 6-5, on Friday afternoon in St. Louis, Missouri.
Spalding took the first game, 3-0. The win improves the Golden Eagles to 12-10 overall, 4-3 in conference play. The loss drops the Griffins to 8-11 overall, 6-1 in conference play.
Robyn Schoen (6-5) picked up the win, while Diamond Thomas (1-5) was hit with the loss. Schoen threw seven innings of two hit ball while tallying nine strikeouts on her way to the complete-game victory.
Laken Heavner led the way at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a walk, stolen base, run batted in and run scored.
Kaylin Rucker went 1-for-3 with a walk, double, and run batted in.
Lindsey Hubbard went 1-for-2 with a walk and run scored.
The two teams were in a battle of pitching, as the game was scoreless through the first four innings. The Golden Eagles finally broke through in the top of the fifth with a pair hits, including the go-ahead single from Heavner and a run scoring double by Rucker. That was all the offense Schoen would need as she shut down the Griffins the rest of the way en route to victory.
Spalding dropped the second game of the doubleheader, 6-5. The win improves the Griffins to 9-11 overall, 7-1 in conference play. The loss drops the Golden Eagles to 12-11 overall, 4-4 in conference play. Brianna Durant (3-0) picks up the win, while
Robyn Schoen (6-6) is handed the loss.
Mackenzie Henderson had a solid day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a stolen base, run batted in, and a pair of runs scored.
Samantha Klein went 2-for-4 with a triple and run scored.
Caroline Hale went 1-for-3 with a double, run batted in, and run scored.
Laken Heavner was 1-for-4 with a run batted in and a run scored.
The Golden Eagles drew first blood in this one as they scored one on a
Kaylin Rucker single in the top of the third inning. They added to their lead in the next inning with four runs on five hits, including the Hale double. The Eagles though their lead was safe but the Griffins had other plans as they went on to score five runs in the bottom of the sixth, including a pair of home runs. Spalding was held scoreless in the top of the seventh, keeping the momentum on the side of Fontbonne. The Griffins would use that momentum in the bottom half of the inning as they led off the inning with a walk, bunted the runner over to second, and scored the run on a single up the middle, walking things off on the Golden Eagles.
The Golden Eagles are back in action tomorrow, April 15
th, as they head to Greenville, Illinois to take on the Panthers of Greenville College in doubleheader action. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 1 pm EST.
Courtesy of Liam Clemen
