ELSAH, Ill. – The Spalding softball team swept a doubleheader at Principia, 14-3 and 11-0, Saturday afternoon in Elsah, Ill. improving to 12-9 (4-2 SLIAC).
THE BASICS
SCORES: GM1: SU 14 – PC 3, GM2: SU 11 – PC 0
LOCATION: Elsah, Ill.
RECORDS: Spalding 12-9 (4-2 SLIAC) | Principia 2-18 (2-10 SLIAC)
GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS
The Golden Eagles plated a run in the first and second inning to take a 2-1 lead after two innings. An error at second allowed Ally Klein to score in the first inning, and Lindsey Hubbard came home on an error in left field for a run in the second.
Tied 2-2 in the fifth, Spalding scored four runs to take a 6-2 lead. With bases loaded, Caroline Hale singled bringing in Mackenzie Henderson, Grace Sweat followed with a two-run single and Hale stole home for the final run of the inning.
SU put the game out of reach in the sixth adding three more runs. Back-to-back doubles by Henderson and Olivia Carter drove in the first two runs and fly out to right brought in Henderson for the final run of the inning.
Spalding ballooned the lead to 12 runs scoring five runs in the seventh. Carter got it started with a single scoring Hubbard and Kaylin Rucker highlighted the inning with a three-run triple and scored on a Hale sacrifice fly.
GAME ONE STAT LEADERS
Kaylin Rucker had an outstanding game going 3-for-4 with a triple and three runs batted in.
Mackenzie Henderson finished with two doubles going 4-for-5 with one RBI.
Grace Sweat and Olivia Carter each batted in three runs.
Amber Kilburn (4-6) notched the win, holding the Panthers to three runs, on nine hits, while striking out six batters in a complete game effort.
FOR THE FOES
Hannah Hathaway led Principia at the plate going 2-for-4 with two runs batted in.
Leah Schaefer (2-12) suffered the loss allowing 14 runs, 12 earned, on 19 hits, while striking out seven batters in 7.0 innings pitched.
GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS
Spalding jumped out to a big lead early scoring six runs in the first inning. A Rucker two-run double put the Golden Eagles on the scoreboard, Abby Booker followed with a two-run single, Sweat singled scoring Booker and Lindsey Hubbard capped off the inning with a single to bring Sweat across the plate for the final run of the inning.
SU added two more runs in the third inning when Ally Klein doubled scoring Hubbard from second, then advanced to third and home on passed balls to score the final run of the inning.
The Golden Eagles scored three runs in the fourth pushing their lead to 11 runs. With the bases loaded, Hubbard hit a two-run double scoring Booker and Brianna Eatmon. A Stephanie Fries groundout to short allowed Grace Sweat to advance home for SU's 11th and final run of the game.
GAME TWO STAT LEADERS
Lindsey Hubbard led Spalding at the plate going 2-for-3, with a double, three runs batted in and a run scored.
Kaylin Rucker went 2-for-4 with two RBI and Abby Booker drove in a pair of runs on a 1-for-2 performance.
Olivia Carter (6-3) earned her fourth straight win limiting Principia to just two hits, while striking out three batters and walking zero in a 5.0 inning shutout.
FOR THE FOES
Emily Hewitt and Lauren Daugherty each recorded a hit for Principia.
Aleigha Russell (0-4) suffered the loss giving up 11 runs, 10 earned, on seven hits, while walking six batters and hitting two in 3.1 innings pitched.
UP NEXT
The Golden Eagles are back in action Friday playing a 3:00 pm EST doubleheader against Blackburn at Holy Cross.
