Spalding Opens Season With Win Over #2 Wisconsin-Whitewater

Spalding University opened their 2019 season in a big way, defeating #2 ranked Wisconsin-Whitewater 8-5 in Montgomery, Ala. The Golden Eagles jumped on top of All-American pitcher Michael Kaska, plating four runs in the first two innings. 

Spalding's Dillon Sievert led the game off with a solo home run. Two batters later Eric Meyer singled and after hits from Quenton Brownlee and Jacob Reece would come around to score to put the Golden Eagles up 2-0 after the first half inning. 

Wisconsin-Whitewater struck back with a run of their own in the bottom half of the frame but Spalding answered right back with two more runs in the second inning. Mitchell Langley started the inning with a single and he would move to second on a single from Sievert. Garrett Wilson ripped a double to right center that would score both runners. 

Spalding opened the game up in the 4th with three runs. Langley reached on a single and then the Golden Eagles would use their speed to play a role. After stealing second base Langley moved to third on a wild pitch. Sievert drew a walk and stole second as well, just ahead of a walk by Eric Meyer that loaded the bases. Brownlee delivered the blow, a three-run double to right that cleared the bases and put Spalding up 7-1. 

The Golden Eagles tacked on their eighth run of the game in the 7th inning when Zane Baker lifted a sacrifice fly that scored Reece. Wisconsin-Whitewater pushed two runs across in the 8th inning and another in the 9th before Lane Staples was able to close the door with two strikeouts in the final frame. 

Spalding finished with 8 runs on 10 hits as Dillon Sievert picked up the win going 6 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out three. Staples worked 2 1/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits with four strikeouts. Sievert also finished 2-for-4 with three runs scored at the plate and was one of four Golden Eagles with multiple hits in the game.

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