LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Spalding softball hosted the 2025 SLIAC Tournament in Kentucky this weekend. SU finished the SLIAC Tournament as the Runner-Up.

SU ended their season with an overall record of 22-18. 

GAME ONE - SPALDING 3, BLACKBURN 0
Spalding got on the board early, scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning to grab an immediate lead. They applied pressure, adding another run in the third and a final insurance run in the sixth. The Golden Eagles tallied 10 hits, with several players contributing to a balanced offensive attack. Their ability to consistently put the ball in play and capitalize on scoring opportunities made the difference in a game dominated by strong defense and pitching. 

The game's real story, however, was Spalding's performance in the circle. The Golden Eagles' pitcher threw a complete-game shutout, allowing just two hits while striking out four and issuing no walks. Blackburn struggled to find any rhythm offensively, as Spalding's pitching and defense worked seamlessly together. The Eagles committed no errors and played with poise, keeping the Beavers off the base paths and the scoreboard.

GAME TWO - SPALDING 4, MUW 2
Spalding wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, pushing across a run in the bottom of the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead. MUW responded quickly with a run of their own in the top of the second to tie the game, but the Golden Eagles regrouped and reclaimed the momentum in the third. A timely two-run inning gave Spalding a 3-1 advantage, which they would not relinquish for the rest of the game.

Both teams scored once more in the fifth inning. MUW chipped into the lead with a run in the top half, but Spalding answered in the bottom of the frame to keep the margin at two runs. That insurance run proved critical, as the game tightened in the later innings. Despite facing some defensive challenges, they committed five errors throughout the match. Spalding's pitching staff and infield held firm under pressure, preventing MUW from mounting a late comeback. Spalding collected seven hits in the game, contributing up and down the lineup. Smart baserunning and timely at-bats allowed the Golden Eagles to take advantage of MUW's defensive miscues while also manufacturing their own offense. Though the defense was tested, the team responded with several key outs that shut down potential rallies and preserved the lead.

GAME THREE - SPALDING 1, GREENVILLE 4
Despite a competitive showing through the early innings, the Golden Eagles could not keep pace with Greenville's timely hitting and late-inning pressure. Greenville struck first, scoring a run in the top of the first inning to set the tone early. Spalding responded with steady defense and kept the Panthers off the scoreboard for the subsequent three frames. In the bottom of the fourth, the Golden Eagles broke through offensively, tying the game at 1-1. However, the momentum was short-lived.

Greenville delivered the game's most decisive blow in the fifth inning, a two-run rally that gave them a 3-1 lead. The Panthers applied pressure in the seventh, adding one more insurance run to make it 4-1. Spalding attempted to mount a comeback, but Greenville's pitching held firm, retiring key batters and stranding any late base runners.

Offensively, Spalding managed just four hits in the contest, struggling to string them together into multi-run innings. The lone run scored in the fourth inning resulted from patient at-bats and solid contact. Still, consistent offense proved elusive against Greenville's starter, who stayed in control throughout the game. Despite putting the ball in play, the Golden Eagles could not break through again after the fourth.Spalding played a relatively clean game on the defensive side, committing just one error. The pitching staff limited walks and avoided major mistakes, but Greenville capitalized on key opportunities with runners in scoring position. Spalding's defensive efforts kept the game close, but the Panthers' ability to deliver in high-leverage moments was ultimately the difference.

GAME FOUR - SPALDING 3, GREENVILLE 8
The defeat, played at Legacy Fields in Louisville, Kentucky, handed Greenville the tournament title and capped off a memorable season for the Golden Eagles, who finished with a 22-18 overall record. Coming off a tough 4-1 loss in the first game of the doubleheader, Spalding urgently entered the second contest, needing a win to force a winner-take-all third game. However,
Greenville came out firing early, jumping on the scoreboard with four runs in the top of the first inning. The Panthers used a combination of aggressive baserunning and timely hitting to seize early momentum, putting the Golden Eagles in a hole they would spend the rest of the game trying to climb out of. Spalding showed signs of life in the third inning when they scratched across a run to make it 4-1. However, Greenville quickly responded with three more runs in the fourth, pushing their lead to 7-1 and further dampening Spalding's comeback hopes. The Golden Eagles continued to fight, generating two more runs in the sixth inning on a series of solid at-bats and smart baserunning. With the score now 7-3, Spalding seemed to have a slight window to mount a rally, but Greenville added one final insurance run in the top of the seventh to put the game out of reach effectively.

Offensively, Spalding collected six hits in the loss, spreading the production throughout the lineup. The Golden Eagles remained competitive at the plate, putting runners in scoring position in multiple innings, but struggled to deliver the key hits needed to close the gap. Defensively, Spalding was charged with two errors, which proved costly as Greenville capitalized on those opportunities to extend innings and pad their lead.

Despite the outcome, the Golden Eagles showcased resilience and heart throughout the championship series. After navigating through the SLIAC Tournament with wins over Blackburn and Mississippi University for Women, Spalding proved it belonged on the conference's biggest stage. Their strong pitching, timely hitting, and grit helped them reach the finals and finish among the SLIAC's top teams in 2025.

THIS CONCLUDED THE 2025 SEASON.