Baseball earns first win in Florida
Devon Tolan's homer secures the game-winning run against Grove City.
Winter Haven, Fla. - Fontbonne baseball picked up their first win of spring break with an 8-3 victory over Grove City College. The Griffins have now won five games this season and look to increase the win column Thursday with an 11:15 a.m. Eastern game against Elmhurst College.
Grove City got on the board first with a run in the second but Fontbonne answered in the bottom half of the inning. Ryan Schocker led off with a single and was moved to second on a sac bunt by Patrick Shuff. Senior Nick Rothweiler hit a hard ball to left, taking Schocker to third who scored when left fielder Evan Lloyd hit to center.
Vince Santarsiero allowed Grove City to cross home in the fifth after two walks and two singles, but then the Griffins scored three to lead 4-2. Freshman Matt Tossick doubled and got closer to home when fellow freshman Aaron Boyer laid down a bunt to get on first. Boyer stole second and Tossick scored on a throwing error by the catcher. Third baseman Devon Tolan recorded his first collegiate homer to left to drive in two runs.
Grove City introduced a new pitcher in the sixth, but Fontbonne didn't let up. Lloyd reached first and moved to second on a sac bunt by Tossick. Boyer singled to right and with runners on the corner, Ethan Boyer singled to score Lloyd. Ben Greenway's only hit of the day drove in two runs on his double to left center.
In the eighth, Tossick scored on a sacrifice fly to right from Ethan Boyer. Grove City tried to come back in the ninth, but mustered just one run.
Santarsiero got the win in his home state after pitching five innings. Austin Earnest struck out five in three innings for the save.
Tossick finished the day two-of-three with a sac bunt, a double and two runs scored. The Boyer brothers each hit two of four at-bats with a combined three runs scored and two RBI's.