JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – The No. 19/21 ranked Golden Eagles scored four runs over the final two innings and Jimi Keating closed the door in the ninth as Spalding topped MacMurray, 4-3, Friday in Jacksonville, Ill.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Spalding 4 – MacMurray 3
LOCATION: Jacksonville, Ill.
RECORDS: Spalding 15-3 (3-0 SLIAC), MacMurray 5-12 (1-2 SLIAC)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Trailing 3-0 in the eighth, senior first baseman Joe Hatcher got the Golden Eagles on the scoreboard with a solo home run to right field.
- With one out in the top of the eighth, Clay Kelly hit a game winning three-run homer scoring Evan Trentman and Garrett Wilson to put SU in front, 4-3.
- In the bottom of the ninth, Jimi Keating struck out two batters tallying his 300th career strikeout.
STAT LEADERS
- Jimi Keating (6-0) earned the win allowing three runs, on seven hits, while striking out 12 batters, in a complete game effort.
- Joe Hatcher led Spalding at the plate going 3-for-4 with one run batted in and a runs scored.
- Clay Kelly drove in a team-high three runs on a 1-for-5 performance.
- Garrett Wilson was 3-for-4 with a double on the day.
FOR THE FOES
- Brett Mammen and Chris Williams led the Highlander with a pair of hits, while Justin Renou drove in a pair of runs.
- Cory Steinhart (0-5) suffered the loss, allowing four runs, on eight hits, while striking out 12 batters and waking five, in 8.1 innings pitched.
UP NEXT
- The Golden Eagles will wrap up the series at MacMurray with a doubleheader on Saturday. Game one is scheduled for 1:00 pm EST in Jacksonville, Ill.