Griffins Take Two From Dominican And Chicago In Its Home Opener

O'FALLON, Mo.--  The Fontbonne University baseball team got back over the .500 mark on Sunday as the Griffins defeated Dominican 3-2 and Chicago 7-4.

Fontbonne 3 Dominican 2

In game one, the Griffins (3-2), totaled nine hits as Michael Golich and Michael Puckett, Jr., led with two hits each. The hero of the morning went to Gus Purschke, who lone hit and RBI happened in walk-off fashion.

On the bump, Luke Summers got the no-decision but pitched a gem. The right-hander went 6.2 innings, allowing six hits and sat down seven Stars hitters. Cole Lankford, meanwhile, got the win after going 0.2 innings.

Dominican (1-1), got a solid outing out of starter Colin Janison as he went 7.0 innings, allowing two runs (zero earned) on seven hits and struck out six. Reliever Noah Loeffler was handed the loss after allowing one run in 1.0 innings pitched. At the plate, Joe Kukla had himself a day going 3-for-5 with a run scored at the leadoff spot.

In the first inning, Golich led off with a single up the middle and moved up a base after Jonathan Hoevelmann's sacrifice bunt. Then, Golich stole third and on the play, catcher Mike Buckley's throw went wild and that allowed Golich to score.

In the third, the team extended its lead out to 2-0 on Schocker's RBI single, which scored Justin Kutz, who reached base on an error to start the inning.

That score remained the same up until the ninth inning. After a hit-by-pitch, a fielder's choice, a single and a walk, the bases were loaded for Janison. He got hit-by-pitch as well, scoring the Stars first run to make it, 2-1. Then, Frankie Sessa followed with a single to left, tying the game at 2-2.

Cole Lankford came on in relief and got Mike Piotrowski to ground-out into the 5-3 double play.

In the home half of the inning, Puckett, Jr., ripped a triple to center to lead off the inning. Pinch-runner Brandon Hinson didn't have to wait long at third as Purschke singled to center, giving Fontbonne the 2-1 victory.

Fontbonne 7 Chicago 4

In game two, with the offense rolling and the bullpen stepping up, the Griffins went on for the three-run win over Chicago. At the plate, Ryan Schocker went 2-for-5 with a run scored and a game-high five RBI, including smashing his first homer on the season.

Out of the pen, Brett Lange got the victory in relief as he went 4.0 innings, allowing no runs on one hit and struck out six. Brian Wacha, meanwhile, got his first save on the year.

Chicago (0-2), was limited to five hits, two of which came off the bet of Connor Hickey. On the bump, Jacob Petersen took the defeat as he walked four batters in his one inning and that allowed three runs to come on home.

After Chicago took a 1-0 lead in the first, the Griffins answered back in a big way. Golich reached base on an error and went on to steal second. After a single by Hoevelmann and a walk by Jackson Penrod, the Griffins got on the board on a passed ball, allowing Golich to score. Then, Schocker, hit an opposite field 3-run homer to push the Griffins lead out to 4-1.

Chicago, though answered right back in the second, scoring three runs on just one hit to tie the game at 4-4. Fontbonne went on to put away the game for good in the fourth.

With one out, the bases were loaded for Penrod and he worked a walk to score Purschke, who earned a walk as well to lead off. Then, Schocker came through once more with a single to left, plating Hoevelmann and Golich.

The Maroons threatened in both the eighth and ninth innings, however, behind the quality pitching from Lankford and Wacha, the Griffins hung on for the win.

The team returns to action this Friday at home against Illinois Wesleyan. First-pitch is set for 12 p.m.

Fans make sure to stay updated on fontbonnegriffins.com throughout the year for full updates and recaps on the baseball team.