03/29/2025 Fulton, MO- Westminster faced off against the Spalding University Golden Eagles for a doubleheader on Saturday, March 29th. Despite a few strong individual performances, the Blue Jays could not secure a win, falling 25-8 in the first game and 6-4 in the second.
Game 1: Spalding 25, Westminster 8
In the first game, Westminster struggled to contain Spalding's powerful offense. While the final score reflected Spalding's dominance, the Blue Jays had moments of offensive strength. Cameron Schlegl led the charge for Westminster, going 3-for-5 with a 3-run home run and driving in 5 RBIs. Beno Ballard also had a solid game, hitting a home run and bringing in 1 RBI. Other contributors included Keli'i Price, Donovan Bohler, and Troy Romero, who each collected hits, with Price and Romero scoring runs.
Defensively, Westminster faced challenges, committing errors and allowing unearned runs that put extra pressure on their pitching staff. Starter Charlie Schweppe (1-4) took the loss, allowing 11 runs in 1.2 innings. The bullpen struggled to stem the tide, and Spalding's offense continued to push across runs throughout the game.
Game 2: Spalding 6, Westminster 4
The second game was much more competitive, and Westminster showed resilience, keeping the game closer. Blake Althuisius started on the mound, going 4 innings and giving up 2 earned runs. He was aided by a bullpen effort from Joshua Escobedo, who pitched 4 innings of relief, allowing 4 runs, but only 1 earned. Salvador Moncada came in for a scoreless inning to close the game.
Offensively, Westminster had a slow start but came alive in the 7th and 9th innings. Schlegl's solo home run in the 7th put the Blue Jays on the board, making it 6-1. In the 9th, Ballard hit a 3-run homer, driving in Schlegl and Troy Romero, bringing Westminster within 2 runs at 6-4. However, the rally fell short as Westminster was unable to push across any more runs.
Ballard's 3-run homer was a key moment for the Blue Jays, and Schlegl's solo shot provided some hope, but Westminster couldn't capitalize on their late-game momentum. The team struck out 12 times and left runners on base, preventing a complete comeback.
Despite two tough losses, Westminster displayed resilience, especially in the second game. Schlegl and Ballard were key offensive contributors, and the pitching staff had
moments of effectiveness. However, Westminster will need to improve its consistency both offensively and defensively moving forward.
The Blue Jays are now 4-2 in conference play and will return to the field on Saturday, April 5th, against Webster University in St. Louis, MO.
