LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The No. 16/18 ranked Spalding baseball team stormed back from an eight-run deficit to top Greenville, 13-12, in game one of Friday's doubleheader at Derby City Field.

THE BASICS
SCORES: Spalding 13 – Greenville 12
LOCATION: Derby City Field | Louisville, Ky.
RECORDS: Spalding 20-3 (7-0 SLIAC), Greenville 8-12 (3-4 SLIAC)

HIGHLIGHTS

Trailing 1-0 in the first, Joe Hatcher singled to left scoring Garrett Wilson to tie the game at one run apiece.

After six Panther runs, Spalding plated a run in the third and fourth inning to cut the deficit to four runs. The first coming on a Sievert groundout scoring Wilson, and in the fourth, Matt Harper singled to left driving in Eric Meyer.

Greenville had SU on the ropes in the top of the fifth plating four runs, with two runners on and one out, with reigning SLIAC Player of the Year Travis Ralls at the plate. Head Coach Matt Downs elected to insert junior Dillon Sievert for his first collegiate action on the mound, and Ralls lined into a double play to end the inning. The Golden Eagles countered with three runs in the home half of the inning to stay in reach. Meyer hit a double to left center, his third of the game, driving in Sievert for the first run. Harper followed with a single to left bringing in Clay Kelly from third, and Isaac Lineberry singled to short scoring Meyer for the final run of the inning.

After a scoreless top of the sixth, Joe Hatcher hit a three-run homer to cut the deficit to two runs.

A Greenville run in the top of the seventh pushed the Panther lead back to three runs, but Sievert evened the score, 12-12, with a three-run homer bringing in Evan Trentman and Wilson. Clay Kelly followed with a single, moved to second on a wild pitch, stole third and Meyer singled to center field to bring Kelly across the plate for the game winning run.

STAT LEADERS

Eric Meyer was on fire at the plate, going 4-for-5 including three doubles, while driving in and scoring two runs.

Dillon Sievert had a great all-around performance. The usual starter at catcher started the game as the designated hitter where he went 2-for-5 with four runs batted in, Sievert (1-0) also earned the win holding Greenville to one run, zero earned, on two hits, while striking out four batters and walking two in 2.2 innings pitched.

Joe Hatcher also drove in four runs going 2-for-5 with a home run and a run scored.

Garrett Wilson continued his hot streak at plate going 3-for-4 with a triple, stolen base and four runs scored.

FOR THE FOES

Sam Hodges drove in a team-high four runs going 1-for-2 and C.J. Falls went 3-for-4 with three runs batted in.

Klaiton Wolff (3-1) suffered his first loss of the season allowing four runs, on five hits, while striking out and walking two batters in one inning pitched.

UP NEXT

The Golden Eagles host a midweek matchup against Thomas More Wednesday, April 11. First pitch is 6:00 pm EST at Derby City Field.