Eureka Drops Series Opener at Spalding, 11-1

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Eureka baseball team dropped its St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference series opener at Spalding on Saturday, 11-1, in seven innings.

Eureka's Chase Ulrich (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria/Illinois Central College) led off the fifth inning with a leadoff home run to put the Red Devils on the board after Spalding scored four in the second and five in the third. The junior transfer's third homer of the season ended up being the team's only run of the day.

Spalding pitcher Caleb Collins limited the Red Devils to one run on three hits and one walk while striking out eight.

After Ulrich's homer, Karter Hostetler (Morton, Ill./Morton) singled and Mike Dunne (Bartonville, Ill./Limestone/Lincoln Land) reached on a fielder's choice. However, the inning ended with a double play.

The Red Devils put two on with two outs in the sixth, but both were left stranded. Nick Rulevish (Addieville, Ill./Okawville) singled and Brandt King (Stillman Valley, Ill./Stillman Valley) walked, but Collins got out of the inning with a strikeout.

Eureka (6-12, 4-3 SLIAC) will wrap up the series against the Golden Eagles (13-5, 2-2 SLIAC) with an 11 a.m. doubleheader on Sunday.