Griffins Offense Explodes For A Combined 29 Runs In Its Wins Over Eureka

O'FALLON, Mo.— In the fifth inning of game one and the sixth inning of game two, the Fontbonne University baseball team scored a combined 22 runs. The Griffins came away with a 13-2 and 16-4 (7 inn.) victories over the Eureka Red Devils.

Fontbonne 13 Eureka 2

In game one, the Griffins (11-10; 3-1 SLIAC) scattered 13 hits and were led by Jonathan Hoevelmann as he went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a game-high four RBI. Michael Golich and Nick Kenny added two hits each, while Gus Purschke went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI.

On the bump, John Hughes pitched well in the no-decision as he went 4.2 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) and sat down one. Cole Lankford, meanwhile, moved to 3-0 after tossing 2.1 innings of shutout ball.

Eureka (3-7-1; 0-4 SLIAC), saw the trio of Sean Green, Ethan Gates and Joe Quinn have the lone hits. On the mound, Kody Silverthorn took the loss as he went 4.0 innings, allowing six runs (three earned) and striking out one.

It was a scoreless game up until the fifth. The Red Devils took a 2-0 lead in the top half as consecutive bases loaded walks to Grant Mullin and Jake Carter gave them the advantage.

In the bottom half, though the Griffins offense took over. Matt Tossick led off with a walk and moved up a base on Hoevelmann's single. After a perfectly placed bunt by Golich, Jackson Penrod reached base on an error and that allowed Hoevelmann to score.

After Ryan Schocker tied the game with an RBI walk, Michael Puckett, Jr., hit an RBI single to center and that gave them the 3-2 lead.

The hits kept coming on from there as Evan Siegler, Purschke (two), Nick Kenny, Hoevelmann (two) an Golich each contributed a hit and at least one RBI to give the Griffins a commanding 10-2 advantage.

In the bottom of the sixth, Hoevelmann brought home two more runs with an RBI single to left and he scored later in the inning on a throwing error making it an 11-run win.

Fontbonne 16 Eureka 4 (7 innings)

In game two, the offense stayed hot as they scored 16 runs on 15 hits. Golich reached base for the seventh straight game after going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI.

Shocker, Deiydon Rushing, Matt Tossick and Hoevelmann each contributed two RBI and at minimum one hit each. On the rubber, Brian Wacha picked up his first collegiate win in relief of Lankford. The southpaw tossed 2.0 innings of scoreless ball and struck out three.

Eureka was limited to four hits offensively, while starter Isaiah Taylor allowed 12 runs (two earned) on 12 hits in 5.2 innings pitched.

In the first, the Red Devils took a 2-0 lead thanks to a Griffins error and an RBI single from Ray Vogel. In the bottom of the second, however, the Griffins answered.

Nick Kenny led off with a double and moved over to third after a groundout. Rushing then hit the ball out to right center. The centerfielder dropped the ball and that allowed Kenny to come in on to score.

Two batters later, Hoevelmann singled to left to tie the game after plating Rushing. Golich kept the line moving with a rope of a single to right allowing Hoevelmann to easily score. Jackson Penrod capped off the inning with an RBI double to right and now Fontbonne was on top, 4-2.

Eureka got one of those runs back in the third. In the fifth, Mike Redmond reached base on a one-out single. After a wild-pitch, he scored on Sean Green's single to left to tie the game.

In the sixth, the Griffins put the game away for good. Kenny got on after a fielding error by the shortstop. A pop-out and a single from Rushing put runners on the corners.

Tossick stepped in and nearly homered out to deep center but the ball went off the wall. Kenny and Rushing scored while Tossick ended up at third on the play. He didn't have to wait long there as he scored on a wild-pitch to extend the lead out to 7-4.

The team tacked on nine more runs, all of which were scored with two outs, and the Griffins went on for the 12-run mercy-rule win.

They're right back at it tomorrow afternoon in the series finale at CarShield Field. First-pitch will be thrown 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.