MYRTLE BEACH S.C. -  Spalding's softball team wrapped up the Fastpitch Dreams Spring classic winning two of the three games on the final day.

After the three games against University of Maine - Presque Isle, Saint Joseph, and a rematch against Scranton, the Golden Eagles improved their record to 7-1. It is the best start for Spalding since 2012.

GAME ONE - SPALDING 6, UNIVERSITY OF MAINE - PRESQUE ISLE 2
It wasn't till the bottom of the third when the Golden Eagles made their move. Up first for Spalding was Jenni Beasley. She launched a single down the middle getting her on base. Zoe Facenda was up after Beasley. Facenda nabbed a single for herself, while Beasley advanced to second on the hit and then moved to third off a fielding error by the Owls first baseman. Facenda stole second while Dawn Wilson was at the plate. Wilson ended up hitting a single down to third base load the bases. Kailey Reed made it to first on a fielder's choice but Beasley got out at home on a toss from the pitcher to the catcher. Rylee Phillips made it to first the same way Reed got on base, but Facenda was tagged out at home by the catcher. Senior Jessica Tucker hit a grand slam sending herself, Wilson, Reed and Phillips home which brought the score to 4-0.

After the spectacular play from Tucker, Kaleigh Franklin-Brooks was up next at bat. She reached first , then advanced to second off a fielding error by UMPI's center fielder. Madison Loechle followed shortly after Franklin-Brooks. Loechle ended up getting an RBI sending Franklin-Brooks home and advanced to second off the Owls had a fielding error by their left fielder. Loechle ended up coming home after Allison Nell made it to first after an error by their UMPI's first baseman and brought the score to 6-0 at the end of the frame.

The Owls tried to make up ground as much as they could. They picked up a run in the fifth inningand also during the seventh inning when they scored on a passed ball. The final score was 6-2 to end the first game of the day.

GAME TWO - SPALDING 6, SAINT JOSEPH 5
The Golden Eagles came out of the gate running in hopes to keep their winning streak alive when they were up against University of Saint Joseph. Phillips was the first batter for Spalding. After a Phillips walk, she saw an opportunity and made a successful steal to second. Phillips was sent home by an RBI double from Grayce Marcum. Soon after she would be sent home in the same way from an RBI double from Bella Velez, that brought the score to 2-0 at the end of the inning.

Saint Joseph responded quickly a couple of innings later in the third. With an RBI single from Ellis and a score from Stoddard off a wild pitch to tie up the score 2-2.

In the fourth inning, SU made some small advancement away from the Blue Jays. Bianca Ward eventually made it to first off a fielding by USJ's short stop. With an RBI single from Karlee Terral, Beasley made her way home, after reaching base on a double, and made the score 3-2 at the end of the frame.

The Blue Jays made a big surge over a couple of innings to pull away from the Golden Eagles. They held a lead of 3-5 at the end of the seventh frame.

Spalding responded very well under the pressure the Blue Jays made. Marcum set the tempo for the Golden Eagles by getting on the base by a single. Jessica Tucker earned herself a single next which allowed Marcum to advance to second. After the singles, a passed ball by USJ allowed both Marcum and Tucker to advance one base. Then to wrap up the game, Velez launched a three RBI walk-off home run sending herself, Marcum, and Tucker home to win the game 6-5.

GAME THREE - SPALDING 7, SCRANTON 8
The rematch against Scranton didn't go the same way it did on the second day of the classic. The Royals pulled away early by scoring two in the second inning.

In the bottom of the same inning, Franklin-Brooks walked to first then stole second when Ward was at bat. Ward also made it first from a walk and then advanced to second on a passed ball. Franklin-Brooks took advantage of the situation to make her way to third. After a fly out and foul out by US's first baseman, Wilson was at bat. With an RBI single through the left side by Wilson, Franklin-Brooks scored which brought the score 1-2 at the end of the frame.

The Golden Eagles made a big surge at the bottom of the fourth, which started with a Wilson walk. Then immediately after she got on base, Marcum was up next. Wilson was soon sent home by a RBI triple by Marcum. Tucker was next to get on the base from a walk. When she saw the chance, Tucker made a dash and stole second. A two RBI single up to center field from Velez, sent Marcum and Tucker home to regain the lead 4-2.

In the bottom of the fifth frame, Franklin-Brooks hits a single down the middle. Then Hayleigh Gnagie sent the ball flying for a two RBI home run that sent both herself and Franklin-Brooks around the bases. This play sent the score to 6-3 in favor of the Golden Eagles.

US regained the lead during the very next inning. Runs scored by Cawley, Priolo, Feltenber, Rochford, and Davida made the score 6-8 and gave the Royals the favorable lead over Spalding.

The game was solidified in the bottom of the same inning. Velez was the first on base with a fielding error from US's third baseman. She advanced to second while Loechle hit a single down towards third. Velez was sent home by an RBI single down the right field line by Franklin-Brooks. Unfortunately, Velez was the final scoring run for the Golden Eagles with a final score of 8-7 in favor of SU's opposition.

GOLDEN EAGLE NOTES

• In the first game, both Madison Loechle and Jenni Beasley were 2-for-3 at the plate. Jessica Tucker lead the way with RBI with a total of four.
• In the second game, Karlee Terral lead the way with being 2-for-3 at the plate. Junior Bella Velez led with they way with four RBI
• In the final game of the classic, Kaleigh Franklin-Brooks was 2-for-2 at the plate. Both Velez and Hayleigh Gnagie were tied with two RBI each.
• Erica McMann was the winning pitcher for the first game. During her seven full innings in the circle, she allowed nine hits and no earned runs.
• Michaela Ferman was the starting pitcher for the second game. While she pitched in the 5 full innings in the ring, she allowed eight hits and three earned runs. McMann took over the final two innings and allowed 3 hits and 2 earned runs which earned her the win.
• Velez was the starting pitcher for the final game in the classic and was given the loss after pitched for 5 ⅓ innings.
• Michaela Ferman also pitched in the final game. She struck out three and allowed no earned runs in 1 2/3 innings of action.

UP NEXT FOR SPALDING
The Golden Eagles return to road this Saturday, March 18 for the Pioneer Classic hosted by Transylvania University in Elizabethtown, Ky. The team will be playing in a double header against Anderson and Wittenberg at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. respectively.