FULTON, Mo. — The Spalding University softball team brought out the bats in full force yesterday, securing a high-scoring doubleheader sweep on the road against Westminster College. The Golden Eagles claimed a thrilling 10-9 victory in Game 1 before dominating Game 2 with a 13-4 run-rule win in five innings.
Game 1: Spalding 10, Westminster 9
In the opening matchup, both offenses came out swinging in a chaotic first inning. Spalding jumped to an early 3-0 lead courtesy of an RBI double by
Kaleigh Franklin-Brooks and an RBI single by
Bianca Ward. However, Westminster immediately answered with a massive five-run bottom of the first, highlighted by a grand slam from Ellie Bedsworth.
Spalding showed resilience, battling back to tie the game at 5-5 in the second inning on a two-run single from
Braeanna Billups, and briefly reclaimed the lead on a sacrifice fly by Franklin-Brooks. Westminster tied it again at 6-6 in the bottom frame.
The Golden Eagles pulled away in the middle innings. A three-run fourth inning, fueled by a two-run single from
Morgan Gambrell and an RBI single from Franklin-Brooks, gave Spalding a 9-6 cushion. They added an insurance run in the fifth on a
Brooklynn Nolot sacrifice fly. Despite a late rally by Westminster that plated two runs in the seventh, Spalding held on for the 10-9 win.
Key Performances (Game 1):
Game 2: Spalding 13, Westminster 4 (5 Innings)
Riding the momentum of Game 1, Spalding's offense caught fire early in Game 2 and never looked back, putting away Westminster via the run rule in five innings.
The Golden Eagles exploded for five runs in the second inning to take a commanding 6-0 lead. The rally was punctuated by a towering two-run home run to center field by
Kaleigh Franklin-Brooks. Spalding continued to pour it on in the fourth and fifth innings.
Emma Eaton delivered a clutch two-run double in the fifth, and starting pitcher
Kaylee Fitzner helped her own cause by following it up with an RBI double to extend the lead to 13-2.
Westminster managed to plate two runs in the bottom of the fifth, but it wasn't enough to extend the game, giving Spalding the 13-4 sweep.
Key Performances (Game 2):
- Kaylee Fitzner (W, 1-0): A phenomenal two-way performance. In the circle, she pitched all 5.0 innings to earn the win. At the plate, she was a perfect 4-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs, and two runs scored.
- Kaleigh Franklin-Brooks: 2-for-4, 1 home run, 1 double, 3 RBIs, 2 runs scored.
- Braeanna Billups: 3-for-4, 1 double, 3 runs scored.
- Emma Eaton: 1-for-4, 1 double, 3 RBIs.
