Posted: May 04, 2019

Eureka, Spalding to Vie First Softball Title

The Cinderella field of the 2019 SLIAC Softball Tournament will have a Cinderella championship as Eureka College and Spalding University will compete on Sunday for the right to capture their program's first-ever SLIAC Softball Tournament Title.

Inside the Game - Eureka 9, Greenville 0 - BOX SCORE
Greenville jumped out early against Iowa Wesleyan with three runs in the top of the 1st inning, extending their lead to four before the Tigers were able to put runs up on the scoreboard late. The Panthers put their first two runners on with singles with leadoff hitter Kayla Zimmerman coming around to score on an error for the game's first run. Beth Mersinger followed with a two-run homer to quickly give Greenville a 3-0 lead. The Panther added a run in the 3rd when Zimmerman's speed once again played a role. After singling she stole second and then moved to third on a ground out before crossing the plate on a single from Deidra Holzhauer. Iowa Wesleyan cracked the scoreboard in the 4th inning when McKena Woolery singled in Ashley Machholz. But the Tigers couldn't capitalize in the inning, leaving two runners stranded. They threatened again in the 7th, eventually pushing across Addison Westercamp but once again left two runners on base.

Kayla Zimmerman was 4-for-4 with two runs scored and two stolen bases for Greenville.
Caitie Opp picked up the win, going 7 innings and allowing 7 hits while striking out two.
Iowa Wesleyan's McKena Woolery and Emilee Rooney each had two hits
Morgan Christner took the loss, going 7 innings and allowing 10 hits while striking out 11.

Inside the Game - Spalding 6, Iowa Wesleyan 4 (8 innings) - BOX SCORE
The day's second game was a scoring affair with runs coming in every inning except the 2nd. Eureka loaded the bases in the 1st inning but Spalding nearly escaped but couldn't handle a ball to short that allowed Red Devil leadoff hitter Raelyn Payne, who had walked, to score. An error led to Spalding's first run of the game as well, with Jaycee Head reaching base to start the 3rd inning. A single by Ally Klein moved Head over to second and after a sacrifice bunt advanced both runners Olivia Carter played small ball and drove in a run with an RBI ground out. The Golden Eagles took the lead the next inning when Addie Morris scored on a double by Brooke Smith. They added to their lead in the 5th on an RBI single from Grace Sweat to make the score 3-1. But the Red Devils, who had been held to just five hits in their first four innings exploded for 5 runs on 5 hits int he 5th inning alone. The big inning was started with a big blow from Morgan Ledbetter, a two-run home run. Payne would add to the lead with a two-run single and Sydney Shubert tacked on the innings fifth run to make the score 6-3. Spalding got one run back in the 6th but it was quickly answered by Eureka in the bottom frame with another Ledbetter long ball.

Morgan Ledbetter was 3-for-4 with 2 home runs and 3 RBI for Eureka.
Erin Smith notched the win, going 7 innings and allowing two earned runs.
Addie Morris, Avery Morris, and Grace Sweat all had two hits each for Spalding.
Olivia Carter suffered the loss, throwing 6 innings and allowing six earned runs while striking out one.

Inside the Game - Spalding 9, Greenville 6 - BOX SCORE
The day's second game was a scoring affair with runs coming in every inning except the 2nd. Eureka loaded the bases in the 1st inning but Spalding nearly escaped but couldn't handle a ball to short that allowed Red Devil leadoff hitter Raelyn Payne, who had walked, to score. An error led to Spalding's first run of the game as well, with Jaycee Head reaching base to start the 3rd inning. A single by Ally Klein moved Head over to second and after a sacrifice bunt advanced both runners Olivia Carter played small ball and drove in a run with an RBI ground out. The Golden Eagles took the lead the next inning when Addie Morris scored on a double by Brooke Smith. They added to their lead in the 5th on an RBI single from Grace Sweat to make the score 3-1. But the Red Devils, who had been held to just five hits in their first four innings exploded for 5 runs on 5 hits int he 5th inning alone. The big inning was started with a big blow from Morgan Ledbetter, a two-run home run. Payne would add to the lead with a two-run single and Sydney Shubert tacked on the innings fifth run to make the score 6-3. Spalding got one run back in the 6th but it was quickly answered by Eureka in the bottom frame with another Ledbetter long ball.

Morgan Ledbetter was 3-for-4 with 2 home runs and 3 RBI for Eureka.
Erin Smith notched the win, going 7 innings and allowing two earned runs.
Addie Morris, Avery Morris, and Grace Sweat all had two hits each for Spalding.
Olivia Carter suffered the loss, throwing 6 innings and allowing six earned runs while striking out one.

Next Up, Championship Sunday
Eureka and Greenville will meet in the day's first game on Saturday at 11 a.m. That will be followed by Iowa Wesleyan and Spalding at 1 p.m. with the winner of their game facing the loser of the first game of the day at 3 p.m. All games are being played at Westminster College in Fulton, Mo. and are being broadcast thanks to CollegeCasts. You can find the tournament broadcast links HERE