MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Golden Eagles took down #2-ranked Wisconsin-Whitewater, 8-5, in their season opener at the Moe's BBQ Smokin' Classic in Montgomery, Ala. This marks the Golden Eagles second win over a top-3 team in past year, as SU knocked off #1-ranked UMass-Boston, 11-9, on March 15, 2018.

THE BASIC
SCORE: Spalding 8 – #2 UW-Whitewater 5
LOCATION: Posey Field | Montgomery, Ala.
RECORDS: Spalding 1-0 | UW-Whitewater 0-1

HIGHLIGHTS
- The Golden Eagles wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. Starting pitcher Dillon Sievert, who also hit in the one spot, hit a leadoff home run on the second pitch of the game to put SU on top, 1-0. After a pair of singles by Eric Meyer and Quenton Brownlee, Jacob Reece singled to left scoring Meyer from second to extend the lead to two runs.
 
- After a Warhawks run in the bottom of the first, SU responded with two more runs in the top of the second. Singles by Mitchell Langley and Sievert put runners on first at second, and Garrett Wilson ripped a double to right center bringing them across the plate to make to the score, 4-1, Golden Eagles.  
 
- SU added three more runs in the fourth inning to go ahead, 7-1. With bases loaded and two outs, Brownlee ripped a double to right field bringing, Langley, Sievert and Meyer across the plate.
 
- The Warhawks got a run back in the bottom of the fifth, but a Zane Baker sacfly in the seventh scored Reece, who tripled earlier in the inning, to push the margin back to six runs.

STAT LEADERS
- Dillon Sievert (1-0) earned the win limiting the Warhawks to two runs, on five hits, while striking out three batters in 6 2/3 innings pitched. Sievert also had a solid day at the plate, going 2-for-4, with a home run, a RBI and three runs-scored.
 
- Quenton Brownlee drove in a team-best three runs going 2-for-5 with a double.
 
-  Sophomores Jacob Reece and Mitchell Langley also finished with a pair of hits.
 
- Lane Staples came in to close the door on Whitewater striking out four batters in 2 1/3 innings.

FOR THE FOES
- Michael Kaska (0-1) suffered the loss. The Golden Eagles got to preseason All-American early tagging him for 4 runs, 3 earned, on 7 hits, in 3.0 innings.
 
- Nick Santoro led the Warhawks at the plate going 2-for-3 with a double and a triple, while Nick Schrader drove in a team-high two runs.

UP NEXT
- The Golden Eagles will be back on the diamond this weekend taking on Case Western Reserve at Derby City Field in Louisville, Ky. The games are scheduled for 1:00 pm and 4:30 pm Saturday and 12:00 pm Sunday, but may be subject to change due to weather.