O'FALLON, Mo. – Spalding baseball traveled to Missouri this past weekend for the 2025 SLIAC Tournament. Spalding went 1-2 and fell to MUW in the Elimination Round.

Spalding ended the season with a 28-14 regular season record.

GAME ONE - SPALDING 18, MUW 4
The Golden Eagles wasted no time setting the tone, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning and two more in the second to grab an early 5-0 lead. MUW showed some life in the top of the third, plating three runs to narrow the deficit to 5-3. However, Spalding quickly answered with a run in the bottom half of the inning and never looked back.

The Eagles' offense erupted for 13 runs over the next four innings, including a massive seven-run sixth inning that effectively put the game out of reach. Spalding tallied 16 hits daily, with nine players recording at least one hit. 

Caden Krystofiak earned the win on the mound, improving to 8-3 on the season. He threw six solid innings, allowing just four hits and four runs (three earned) while striking out six. The bullpen took care of the rest, holding MUW scoreless over the final three innings. MUW's starter Robby Canten took the loss, dropping to 1-4 after giving up six earned runs over three innings.

Defensively, Spalding played a clean game, committing no errors, while MUW struggled in the field, committing four errors that led to six unearned runs. The Golden Eagles took full advantage of those miscues, extending innings and adding to their potent offense.

GAME TWO - SPALDING 0, WEBSTER 2
Spalding's pitching staff gave a strong performance, allowing just five hits and two runs across eight innings, but it wasn't enough to overcome a stellar outing by Webster's starter. Spalding was limited to only four hits over nine innings and struggled to generate consistent offensive pressure throughout the contest.
Webster got on the board early with a run in the bottom of the first inning and added a second in the fourth. That would prove to be all the offense they needed, as their pitcher worked efficiently and effectively, striking out nine batters and not issuing a single walk.
Despite the loss, Spalding had opportunities. Their best scoring chance came in the top of the sixth inning when they put runners on base with less than two outs, but a double play ended the threat. The Golden Eagles could also not take advantage of two errors committed by Webster, leaving four runners on base in total.
Defensively, Spalding played a clean game with no errors and solid support behind their pitcher. However, the inability to string hits together proved costly in a match where run production was at a premium.

GAME THREE - SPALDING 8, MUW 9
Spalding's offense was potent early, amassing 16 hits and building their lead methodically. They scored one run in the second inning, added three more in the fourth, and continued to apply pressure with runs in the fifth, seventh, and two in the eighth. Their consistent scoring appeared to set the stage for a comfortable victory.

However, the bottom of the seventh inning proved disastrous for Spalding. MUW's bats came alive, stringing together hits and capitalizing on opportunities to plate nine runs in the frame, seizing a 9-8 lead. The Golden Eagles could not mount a comeback in the final two innings, despite their earlier offensive success.

THIS CONCLUDES THE 2025 BASEBALL SEASON.