LOUISVILLE, KY – The Spalding University softball team hit the diamond at Legacy Field for a doubleheader against Eureka College on Friday, coming away with a split. The Golden Eagles showcased a powerhouse offensive performance in game one with a 13-0 run-rule victory, but fell just short in a tight game two, losing 3-1. The split moved Spalding's overall record to 13-16 on the season.
Game One: Spalding 13, Eureka 0 (5 Innings)
The Golden Eagles came out swinging in the first game and never looked back. Spalding immediately jumped on Eureka in the bottom of the first inning, plating seven runs. The explosive inning was highlighted by RBI doubles from
Bianca Ward and
Emma Eaton, as well as RBI singles from
Morgan Gambrell and
Riley Wilkins. Spalding kept their foot on the gas in the second, driving in four more runs, including an RBI double from
Haylee Piercy.
While the offense was putting on a clinic, starting pitcher
Riley Wilkins was dealing a masterpiece in the circle. Wilkins (6-5) threw a complete-game, five-inning shutout, allowing just two hits and a single walk while striking out three.
Offensively,
Morgan Gambrell led the charge, going 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and two RBIs.
Emma Eaton was perfectly efficient, going 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles, and Ward finished with two RBIs. In total, Spalding racked up 12 hits and 11 RBIs in a dominant all-around showing.
Game Two: Eureka 3, Spalding 1
The nightcap was a much tighter contest. Pitcher
Kaylee Fitzner (3-5) kept Eureka off the board through the first three innings before the visitors finally broke through in the top of the fourth. A two-run homer by Eureka's Olivia Hurst and an RBI single from Kaitlyn Robinson gave the Red Devils a 3-0 lead.
Spalding fought hard to mount a comeback, getting on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth.
Riley Wilkins singled to start the rally, advanced to third on a bunt single from
Carsyn Sidebottom, and was brought home by a sacrifice fly to left field from
Braeanna Billups.
Despite out-hitting Eureka in key spots and collecting eight hits as a team—including two-hit performances from both Wilkins and Sidebottom—Spalding struggled to push runs across, leaving 10 runners on base. Fitzner took the loss despite a solid six innings of work, and Wilkins returned to the circle to throw a scoreless seventh inning in relief.
Up Next
Spalding looks to build on the momentum of their game-one shutout as they prepare to take on Lyon in another home doubleheader at Legacy Field on April 19th.
