FULTON, Mo. – The Spalding University softball team traveled to Westminster Saturday where they picked up the split. The Golden Eagles extend their record to 14-12 overall and 8-4 in SLIAC play.
 
Game 1: Westminster 8 Spalding 6
In game one of this doubleheader, Westminster would get the jump on Spalding in the bottom of the second as the Blue Jays score three runs on errors. The Golden Eagles would answer back with just one run in the third as Jessica Tucker starts the rally off with a double to center field. Bella Velez would then single to the outfield, sending Tucker to third base for a chance to score. Madison Loechle would score Tucker on the fielder's choice as Velez gets thrown out at second base to get Spalding within two of the lead. The Blue Jays would add on to their lead in the fourth as a sacrifice fly would give them the 4-1 lead. In fifth, Grayce Marcum would triple to center field to get herself into scoring position. Jessica Tucker would reach base for the second time as she is hit by a pitch. Some defensive miscues on the steal from Tucker would send her to third on the throw and Marcum to the plate to cut the lead in half for SU. A big four-run inning for Westminster would diminish any momentum Spalding had offensively as the Blue Jays now lead 8-2. In the sixth, the Golden Eagles would look to gather some momentum as they score two in the inning off errors by the defense. With just one chance left in the top of the seventh and down four, Jessica Tucker would hit a two-run shot over the right center field fence to get SU within two of the lead. Unfortunately, the scoring would stop there and the Blue Jays would walk away with the win in game one, 8-6.
 
Erica McMann picks up her sixth loss of the season to extend her record to 8-6 overall. Grayce Marcum would go 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a triple. Jessica Tucker would go 2-for-2 with two runs scored, two RBIs, a walk, a double, a stolen base, and a homerun. Miranda Thomas would go 2-for-4 with a run scored.
 
Game 2: Spalding 10 Westminster 9
This eight-inning thriller would give Spalding the split in the doubleheader. The Golden Eagles would pop off in the top of the first with a 3-0 lead as Rylee Phillips leads off with a walk and a stolen base. Jessica Tucker would hit a triple down the right-field line to score Phillips from second. With Tucker on third base, Bella Velez would hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Tucker. Madison Loechle would look to extend the rally as she doubles to center field. Allison Nell would single through the third base side to score Loechle from second to give Spalding the 3-0 lead. Back-to-back doubles from Phillips and Tucker would add an extra run in the second for the 4-0 lead. Westminster would find some life offensively as they push four runs across in the bottom of the fourth to tie the score. The Blue Jays would push one across in the bottom of the fifth as a wild pitch puts a runner in scoring position at third giving them the 5-4 lead. The Golden Eagles would put up a four-run sixth inning to potentially seal the deal in game two. With the bases loaded in the sixth, Spalding would score one run on a passed ball by the catcher. A double by Bella Velez would score two more for the Golden Eagles as they now have a 7-5 lead. A single by Loechle would add onto the lead as she singles to center field to score Tucker who reached on a walk earlier in the inning. With a three-run lead in the bottom of the sixth, the Blue Jays would claw their way back and tie the score at eight to send the game into extra innings. As the International Tie Breaker rule goes into effect in the eighth, Grayce Marcum is placed on second for Spalding. Jessica Tucker would double to center field and replace Marcum at second as she comes around the bases to score. Loechle would score Tucker from third on a sac fly to center field to give Spalding a two-run advantage. Despite scoring one in the bottom of the eighth, the Golden Eagles were able to hold off the Blue Jays to secure the win, 10-9.
 
Kori Calvert picks up her fourth win of the season for a record of 4-5 so far this year. Rylee Phillips ended game two 3-for-4 at the plate with a double, two stolen bases, three runs scored, and a walk. Jessica Tucker also went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, three RBIs, two doubles, a triple, and a walk. Madison Loechle goes 2-for-4 with one run scored, two RBIs, and a double.
 
Up next, the Golden Eagles will take on the Greenville Panthers for a SLIAC matchup at home on Wednesday, April 20^th with first pitch at 6 pm ET.