LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The softball team concluded a challenging season with a 1-0 loss to Spalding in the first round of the SLIAC tournament on Wednesday. The Golden Eagles pushed across a run in the first inning, and the Panthers were not able to capitalize on the opportunities they had to tie the game.

Greenville put themselves in a position to score in the first inning with runners on first and third and two outs, but Spalding got Desirae Yost to foul out to third base to end the inning.

In the bottom of the first, starting pitcher Maegan Stone hit Spalding's leadoff batter with a pitch, and the runner promptly stole second base and went to third on a groundout. After Stone hit SU's number three hitter with a pitch, Stone found herself in a jam with runners on second and third after the second baserunner stole second base on a strikeout.

With two outs and runners on second and third, Grace Sweat delivered a critical hit that scored the leadoff batter, and Greenville trailed 1-0.  Stone registered the final out when she got the next batter to foul out to left field.

In the fourth inning, GU started a two-out rally when Hayley Jenkins, Katie Myers, and Morgan Wendling posted three consecutive hits, but Myers got caught in a rundown between second and third to finish the inning.

Stone worked around a leadoff double in the fourth inning, ending the inning with a double play grounder.

The Panthers put two runners on base in the fifth inning with two outs, and Kendall Farr, GU's leading hitter, popped up to second base for the final out.

In the top of the sixth inning, Yost and Jenkins each singled to center field, and they advanced to second and third base on Myers' sacrifice bunt. However, Wendling struck out and Jaclyn Belzer lined out to left field to wrap up the inning.

Spalding retired the Panthers in order in the top of the seventh to complete the shutout.

Jenkins led GU with two hits in three at bats from the number six position in the batting order. Olivia Shipman, Hannah Hoffmann, Yost, Myers, and Wendling each provided one hit.

Stone was up to the challenge in the circle, working all six innings and only allowing the first inning run, six hits, and two hit batters. Stone struck out three.

The Panthers concluded the 2021 season with an overall record of 9-15 in an abbreviated campaign.