Softball Season Comes to End in SLIAC Semifinals

LOUISVILLE, KY. --The Blackburn College Softball team took on Spalding University in their second round matchup in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament Semifinals and went to an extra innings but would ultimately fall to the Golden Eagles 10-9 in the 10th inning to conclude their 2026 season. 

SU took an early 2-0 lead after the first inning but Blackburn answered in the second. Junior Kenadee Frey doubled to get on and scored off a freshman Kharma Giles single. Freshman Kendal Maddox then singled to score Giles and tie the game at 2-2. 

The Beavers took the lead in the fourth inning behind a four-run inning. Freshman Addison Ruyle opened things up with a single then got to second thanks to an error by the Golden Eagle that also placed senior Brianna Melchor on first. Senior Sierra Hiser singled to knock in Ruyle and moved Melchor to third. 

During the next at bat, Melchor scored and Hiser moved up to third on a ball hit by senior Kailynn Kruep that resulted in another SU error. Senior Caroline Gibson followed with a double to center field and scored Kruep and Hiser which put the Beavers ahead 6-2. 

However, Spalding responded with five runs and went ahead 7-6 until Blackburn tied it in the top of the seventh. Frey got on with a walk and was knocked by freshman Alexis Weber's single down the right field line. 

The tie forced the game into extra innings. After a scoreless eighth inning, Blackburn scored two runs in the top of the ninth. 

Senior Zoe Mitchell got on with a single up the middle and Ruyle walked. Giles came up next and doubled to left field to score both Mitchell and Ruyle to take a 9-7 lead, but Spalding responded with two runs of their own to force a 10th inning. 

Blackburn was unable to score in the tenth but the Golden Eagles managed to score a run and take the 10-9 victory. 

With the loss, the season comes to an end with the team posting the second most wins in school history.