Griffins Drop Its Doubleheader Outing Against Illinois Wesleyan

ST. LOUIS, Mo.—The Fontbonne University baseball team hit Shaw Park for the first time this season against Illinois Wesleyan, however, the Titans spoiled the outings, winning game one 11-0 (8 innings) and game two, 5-3.

Illinois Wesleyan 11 Fontbonne 0

The Griffins (3-4), never got its offense going against the Titans hurlers as Nick Brune and Mitch Goll combined to allow just two hits and strike out three. Gus Purschke and Deiydon Rushing were the lone Griffins to tally a hit.

On the bump, starter Brian Wacha was dealt the loss after going 4.0 innings, allowing eight runs (five earned) on eight hits and sat down three.

IWU (2-0), scattered 10 hits and they were led by the No. 3-4 hitters in John Bosco and Gino Cavalieri. The duo combined to go 4-for-6 with three runs scored and three RBI. Garrett Shea, meanwhile, led them in the RBI department (three). On the rubber, Brune got the victory after tossing 6.0 innings of shutout ball.

After a scoreless first, the Titans took over in the second. After a double and an error, Jacob Houghton doubled to right-center, scoring Cavalieri to make it a 1-0 game. Shea followed with a 3-run homer to left and that extended the lead out to 4-0.

From there, the Titans scored three more in the second, one in the fourth and three seventh to go on for the 11-run victory.

Illinois Wesleyan 5 Fontbonne 3

In game two, the Griffins totaled six hits and leading the way was Luke Summers going 2-for-4. Michael Golich, Jonathan Hoevelmann, Jackson Penrod and Matt Tossick added the other hits. Penrod, Tossick and Summers each brought home an RBI as well.

On the bump, Michael Puckett, Jr., took the loss after going 3.0 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and struck out three.

The Titans offense, though finished with nine hits in the night-cap. Mike Plecki had himself a game going 2-for-3 with three RBI. Bosco led them in hits as he went 3-for-4. Starter Eric Bennes earned his first win on the season as he went 5.0 innings, allowing one run (zero earned) on two hits and six strikeouts.

In the top of the second, the bases were loaded for Figus and he drew an RBI walk to give them a 1-0 lead. In the third, the Titans struck again. Bosco led off with a single and moved up two bases on another single from Cavalieri.

Then, Ben Manski had a single of his own, plating Bosco to push the lead out to 2-0. Later in the inning, Mike Plecki hit the fifth single of the inning, scoring Cavalieri.

The Griffins kept battling and got one of those runs back in the fourth. Tyler Grimes reached base on a one out hit-by-pitch. Matt Tossick also got on an error by the IWU defense, but Grimes tried to steal third and was caught stealing for the second out of the inning.

After stealing third, Tossick was able to score on Summers' RBI single to right to narrow it down to 3-1.

That score remained the same up until the top of the seventh. With two on and two outs, Mike Plecki hit a single to right, scoring Eric Kozlowski and Cavalieri, who reached on a single and a walk earlier, extending the advantage to 5-1.

In the bottom of the eighth, however, the Griffins answered right back. Hoevelmann led off with single, and moved up two bases on a steal and passed ball. After a walk to Nick Kenny, Penrod ripped a double to right-center, plating Hoevelmann.

Two batters later, Tossick nearly tied the game with one swing of the bat, but he settled for a double off the bottom of the left-field wall that scored Kenny. However, on that same play, Penrod tried to score from second as he looked to advance on a wild throw. The Titans, though were able to tag him out at home to keep it a 5-3 game.

Braden Miller came on in relief in the ninth and pitched a scoreless inning to secure the two-run win.

The team returns to action this Sunday in Auburndale, Florida, for the Russ Matt Central Florida Invite. First-up is John Carroll at 12 p.m.

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