Fontbonne splits with Spalding, records 22 hits in game two victory

Fontbonne splits with Spalding, records 22 hits in game two victory
April 9, 2017

St. Louis, Mo. - Fontbonne University baseball split with Spalding University Sunday afternoon. After losing game one 10-4, the Griffins mounted a powerful comeback, run-ruling the Golden Eagles 18-8 in eight innings. Fontbonne is now 9-16 overall and 4-5 in conference.

In game one, the Griffins led 4-2 before Spalding took over offensively and scored the next eight runs. Bottom scored two runs in the first and third innings but the Golden Eagles scored two themselves in each of the ensuing half innings to tie the game. The game-winning run for Spalding was a solo home run to start the fifth inning. 

Brendan Beck suffered the loss for Fontbonne. For Spalding, Jimi Keating remains unbeaten on the year, as he earned his eighth victory with nine strikeouts over seven innings. 

The Griffins tallied a season-high 22 hits in game two, the most since March 30, 2014 when Fontbonne recorded 24 hits against Iowa Wesleyan. Fontbonne took a 4-1 lead when Spalding hit back-to-back home runs in the fourth to cut the lead to one. The Griffins answered with eight runs in the fourth and fifth innings including the game-winning run off a grand slam by Ryan Schocker. Fontbonne scored their final run in the fifth when a pitch that hit the dirt got lodged into Spalding's catcher's chest protector, advancing the Borrowman at third across home plate. 

Spalding scored four runs in the seventh, which cut Fontbonne's lead to 13-8. The first seven Golden Eagle runs came from seven solo home runs. After a scoreless top-half of the eighth, the Griffins plated five runs on five hits to end the game early. Evan Siegler pinch-hit for catcher Justin Marks. His single to left scored Schocker from third. 

Jonathan Hoevelmann stole his way around the bases four times. Drew Tayon struck out three Golden Eagles in 1.2 innings of work. Joey Clemente earned his second win of the year after pitching five innings.

The loss for Spalding snapped a seven-game win streak and was the first run-ruled loss this season. The Golden Eagles are now 19-8 overall and 9-2 in conference.  

On the Day

Boyer | 5-9, 5 runs scored, 4 RBI, 2 HR, 1 double 

Greenway | 5-10, 3 runs scored, 3 RBI

Schocker | 4-8, 6 RBI, 1 HR, 1 double

Hoevelmann | 4 runs scored, 4-4 stolen bases

Golich | 5 runs scored