Puckett, Jr., Two-Run Homer In The Seventh Lifted Griffins Past MacMurray In Game One
JACKSONVILLE, Ill.—The Fontbonne University baseball team took game one 4-3 against MacMurray, however, the Highlanders responded with a 5-0 victory in the finale.
JACKSONVILLE, Ill.—The Fontbonne University baseball team took game one 4-3 against MacMurray, however, the Highlanders responded with a 5-0 victory in the finale.
Fontbonne 4 MacMurray 3
The Griffins (9-10; 1-1 SLIAC), picked up the one-run win thanks to Michael Puckett, Jr., two-run blast in the seventh. The team finished with seven hits as Puckett, Jr., Jackson Penrod and Michael Golich had two each.
Penrod also belted his first homer on the season and reached base for the 11th straight game. On the bump, Luke Summers earned his fourth win after tossing a complete game six-hitter and striking out six.
On the other side of the field, the Highlanders (5-11; 1-1 SLIAC) got a solid outing out of starter Trevor Knipe. The hurler went 6.0 innings and struck out eight, though the bullpen was unable to secure the win for him. Offensively, Justin Renoud led at the dish, going 1-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI.
The game remained scoreless up until the home half of the second when Tyler Deaton went yard. In the ensuing half inning, though the Griffins answered.
Jonathan Hoevelmann reached base on an error and he trotted on home on Penrod's 2-run shot giving the Griffins a 2-1 lead. In the home half of the fourth, MacMurray got those runs back on Renoud's two-run blast and now they led 3-2.
That score remained the same up until the seventh. Tyler Brown came on in relief of Knipe and retired the first batter he faced.
Then, Penrod hit a one-out single. Puckett, Jr., stepped in and gave the Griffins its lead back as he belted his second home run on the season. The Highlanders got the tying run aboard in the bottom of the inning but Summers secured the final three outs for the win.
MacMurray 5 Fontbonne 0
In game two, the Griffins offense never found a rhythm against Highlanders starter Ryan Meddows. He went on to toss a complete game shutout, allowing two hits and sat down seven. Offensively, the Highlanders got three more RBI out of Renoud, who homered for the second-straight game.
Levi Earnest took the loss for Fontbonne as he went 1.2 innings, allowing five runs on three hits. Brett Lange came out of the pen and pitched well going 6.1 innings and striking out four. Ryan Schocker recorded both hits for the Griffins.
In the bottom of the second, the Highlanders scored all five runs on three hits, highlighted by Renoud's 3-run homer and that gave them the early lead. Meddows shut down the Griffins offense from there on and picked up the victory.
The Griffins look to bounce back on Friday afternoon at CarShield Field against Eureka. First-pitch will be tossed 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.