LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Spalding baseball team beat #8-ranked Webster, 12-3 and 5-4, Sunday afternoon to secure the series over the Gorloks. With the wins, the Eagles improve to 10-8 overall and 2-0 in SLIAC play. Spalding will go for the sweep Monday, March 28 at 2:00 p.m. ET.
GAME ONE: Spalding 12 – Webster 3
In the opener, Spalding jumped out to an early 1-0 lead with Mike Newsom scoring on a throwing error to first base. However, the Gorloks responded with three-run top of the third to take a 3-1 advantage through three innings. The Eagles took a run back in the bottom of the fourth when Hunter Strong reached on a leadoff double and came around to score an Ethan Tuttle single to the shortstop. Spalding looked to have an opportunity to tie or take the lead with runners on first and second with no outs, but Mike Newsom fouled out into right field leading to a controversial triple play due to both runners being called out for leaving early despite what looked to be a bobble or the ball hitting the ground. Nevertheless, the Eagles would rally from the adversity scoring 11 unanswered runs over the next four innings. The pivotal moment in the game came in the bottom of the sixth inning when Webster Head Coach Bill Kurich decided intentionally walk Newsom to load the bases with two outs. Designated hitter Dryden Schroeder answered the call giving Spalding the lead with a two-RBI single to right center. Schroeder then stole second and Jacob Spanyer singled through the left side scoring Newsom in Schroeder to put the Eagles in front, 7-3, through six innings of play. The Eagles went on to add five more runs in the seventh and eighth innings and starting pitcher Peyton Hood hurled his way to a complete game victory.
Hood (3-2) earned the win limiting Gorlok batters 4 hits, 3 runs, 2 earned runs, while striking out 8 batters in a complete game effort.
Eric Bronner led Spalding at the plate going 4-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and three runs-scored. Speck also finished the game with 4 hits, while driving in a run and scoring three. Strong had a team-high three RBIs while going 2-for-3 with a double.
GAME TWO: Spalding 5 – Webster 4
Looking to secure the series win, Spalding jumped on the Gorloks early scoring five runs in the first three innings to take a 5-0 lead into the fourth inning. A Bronner sacrifice fly to left field drove in Newsom from third for the first run of the game and Speck single down the right field line brough in Schroeder from third to cap off the first inning. In the second, a Spanyer sac fly to center scored Marcus Collins and Tuttle scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-0. Spalding's final run came in the third inning when Newsom was hit by a pitch with bases loaded scoring Bronner. The Gorloks got a much-needed boost in the top of the fourth when Parker Wielt lifted a ball over the fence in left field scoring Evan Evola to trim the Eagles lead to three runs. The Eagles lead would be trimmed to one-run follow a run Gorlok run in the sixth and seventh innings. However, reliever Aaron Blake would hold the Gorlok offense hitless the final two innings to earn the save securing the 5-4 win and claim the series.
Speck led Spalding hitters going 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI, two stolen bases and a run scored.
Garrett Mathews (2-2) earning his second win of the season allowing 8 hits, 3 runs, while striking out six batters in 5.2 innings pitched. Blake earned his second save of the season allowing no run, on no hits, while striking out two batters in 2.0 innings pitched.