LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Spalding softball wrapped up the weekend with a doubleheader sweep over the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Engineers.
After the competition, the Golden Eagles sit at 11-7 on the year.
GAME ONE - SPALDING 3, ROSE-HULMAN 1
After keeping Rose-Hulman off the board in the first,
Dawn Wilson, the leadoff hitter, ended up on first with a walk. After a
Grayce Marcum flyout, Wilson stole second. An RBI single from
Bella Velez, sent Wilson home and made the score 1-0 by the end of the frame.
Both teams were matched defensively in the next inning and did not score any runs. In the third, the Engineers found a crack in Spalding's defense. A sacrifice fly allowed a runner to score and tie the game 1-1.
The control of the game did not reside with anyone until the bottom of the sixth when the Golden Eagles were able to put the game away. Marcum hit a triple to right, after a Wilson flyout, to set herself up in scoring position. A RBI single bunt followed by
Jessica Tucker which Marcum used to make her way home. Tucker then stole second then advanced to third soon after thanks to a throwing error by the catcher.
Madison Loechle scored Tucker on a RBI double to close out the 3-1 win.
GAME TWO - SPALDING 11, ROSE-HULMAN 3
The second game of the day against Rose-Hulman started out differently than the first game.
The Engineers took an early lead in the top of the third. Three runs were put on the board by the visitors to set Spalding back early.
Spalding made up some loss ground in the bottom of the third.
Hayleigh Gnagie made it to first on of a throwing error by the third baseman and then advanced to second. Gnagie was then able to reach third off of a wild pitch. A ground out from
Brooklynn Nolot to the pitcher allowed Gnagie to make it home.
The Golden Eagles were able to hold the Engineers off in the top of fourth and played strong offensively in the bottom of the frame. Velez led off for Spalding and sent the ball out to center fielder for a double. A ground out then advanced Velez to third. With a RBI double from
Kaleigh Franklin-Brooks, Velez was able to make it back to home.
Jenni Beasley was able to make it to first after getting hit by the pitch followed by Gnagie hitting a single to left field to load the bases. A fielders choice allowed Beasley to score and tie the game at 3-3.
In the bottom of the fifth, Spalding took full control of the game. Eight runs came home for the Golden Eagles in the frame. A total of three doubles, a single, a ground out, and a steal of home by Franklin-Brooks put up the runs. Spalding ended the second game with an 11-3 victory.
GOLDEN EAGLE NOTES
- During the first game, Jessica Tucker, Bella Velez, and Madison Loechle each had an RBI while being 1-for-3 at the plate.
- In the second game, Velez and Kaleigh Franklin-Brooks went 2-for-3 at the plate. While Grayce Marcum, Franklin-Brooks, and Brooklynn Nolot each had a team-leading two RBI.
- In game one, Michaela Ferman was the winning pitcher and pitched all seven innings. She allowed just one earned run and two hits while striking out 10.
- In the second game, Erica McMann was the winning pitcher. She was in the circle for the full five innings and allowed eight hits and three earned runs.
UP NEXT FOR SPALDING
The Golden Eagles will be on the road to start conference play. They face Greenville University in a doubleheader on Wednesday, April 5, with first pitch set for 4 p.m.
