Eureka Opens SLIAC Play, Drops Pair at Spalding

Eureka Opens SLIAC Play, Drops a Pair at Spalding

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Eureka baseball team opened St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference against high-touted Spalding on Saturday and dropped a series-opening doubleheader, 9-2 and 7-4.

It was the first Eureka SLIAC baseball contest since March 1, 2020.

Game 1: Spalding 9, Eureka 2

The Red Devils scored two runs on 10 hits and four walks in the series-opening game against the Golden Eagles. The team only committed two errors, but Spalding managed seven earned runs on 12 hits.

The Golden Eagles scored three in the third, two in the fourth and one in the sixth before the Red Devils got in the board in the top of the seventh. Alex Barney (Sheldon, Ill./Milford) knocked an RBI single that scored Jimmy Peterson (Bloomington, Ill./Homeschooled) to make it 9-1.

The following inning, Dean Moir (Coal City, Ill./Coal City) scored on an RBI groundout by Dylan Hill (Steeleville, Ill./Steeleville).

Barney, the Red Devils' freshman third baseman was 3-for-5 with an RBI. Moir was 3-for-4 with a run scored. Jelby Cheramie (Lockport, La./South Laforce), Braden Cross (Clinton, Ill./Clinton), Karter Hostetler (Morton, Ill./Morton) and Peterson each contributed a hit as well.

On the mound, Jared Smith (Henry, Ill./Henry-Senachwine) took the loss in his first start of the season for EC after conceding three runs on five hits and notching one strikeout in three innings. Ryan Bredeson (Washington, Ill./Washington) allowed three earned runs and struck out two in two innings of work, and Garrett Wayne (Clinton, Ill./Clinton) allowed one run on one hit over three innings while striking out two.

Spalding's Jack Parisi recorded the win, holding EC scoreless and striking out nine despite giving up five hits in six innings.

Game 2: Spalding 7, Eureka 4

In Game 2, EC held the lead from the fourth to the eighth inning.

After going down 1-0 in the third frame, EC came back with a four-run fourth that prompted a pitching change.

The Red Devils opened the inning with back-to-back walks, then Peterson singled up the middle to load the bases. Hill capitalized by singling to third and driving in two runs. Two batters later, Cheramie singled up the middle and drove in two more.

Spalding responded with two runs to trim the lead to one in the fifth, then tacked on two more in the sixth and seventh.

Cheramie went 2-for-3 for the Red Devils with RBIs, while Peterson went 2-for-4. Barney, Hostetler and Hill each had a hit, too.

Eureka finished with seven hits in the game and only committed one error in the field.

Three Red Devils appeared on the hill. David Throw (Cary, Ill./Cary-Grove) was the starter, and he limited Spalding to three runs on six hits and three walks while striking out a pair in 4 1/3 inning. Parker Brodine (Brimfield, Ill./Elmwood-Brimfield) and Tate Stone (Washington, Ill./Washington) made relief appearances. They each gave up two runs while combining for four strikeouts.

Coming Up

On Sunday, the Red Devils (0-3, 0-2 SLIAC) will turn around and face Spalding again in a 12 p.m. doubleheader.