Griffins Win Streak Gets Snapped Against Blue Jays; Summers Becomes Single-Season Leader In Strikeouts

FULTON, Mo.—The Fontbonne University baseball team fell 2-1 and 13-10 against Westminster on Saturday afternoon. Also, Luke Summers became the single-season leader in strikeouts in game one for the Griffins.

Westminster 2 Fontbonne 1

In game one, the story belonged to Luke Summers who turned in another standout performance. The St. Louis, Missouri, native went the distance, allowing zero earned runs and struck out nine. He's now up to 76 strikeouts on the year which is a new single-season record.

Offensively, the team was limited to four hits while Michael Puckett Jr., brought home the lone RBI.

Westminster, meanwhile, was limited to three hits. Two of which came off the bat of Ryan Calvin and he joined teammate Branden Beeler with one RBI each. On the bump, Ian Cassidy picked up his sixth win after tossing a complete game and striking out six.

In the first, Nick Bohlmann reached on an error and he went on to score on Clavin's double down the third base line. The Griffins, though got that run right back on Puckett Jr., belting a solo homer in the second.

That score remained the same up until the bottom of the sixth. Mason Price was hit-by-pitch with one out. After a fly-out, Zach Stiles reached base on an error and went on to steal second. Then, Beeler came through with a single to left, plating Price for the game-winning run.

Westminster 13 Fontbonne 10

Game one was a pitching duel but in game two the offenses took over. The two teams combined for 23 runs, 28 hits and six errors. Nine of the 10 Griffins runs came in the final three innings, while the Blue Jays plated at least one run during the last six.

Offensively, Puckett Jr., led with a 2-for-5 two run scored and five RBI performance, including hitting a grand slam. Ryan Schocker also homered for the Griffins and he finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI. On the mound, Puckett Jr., was dealt the loss after allowing three runs in 0.2 innings of work.

Westminster was led by Price in the No. 3 slot as he went 3-for-6 with three runs scored and hit a walk-off grand slam. On the rubber, Ryan Clavin got the win out of the pen. Starter Alex Dickneite pitched well in his no-decision after striking out seven in 6.2 innings of work.

Heading into the top of the seventh, the Blue Jays were out in front 4-0. Then, the Griffins offense got going.

Evan Siegler walked and he moved up to second as Schocker reached base on an error. Matt Tossick brought Siegler in on a fielder's choice, making it a 4-1 game.

After a walk and a strikeout, Golich ripped a double to left-center and that scored Tossick. Gus Purschke hit an infield single to load up the bases for Jackson Penrod. He went on to get hit-by-pitch and that scored Deiydon Rushing.

Clavin came on in relief but that didn't stop Puckett Jr. The Florissant, Missouri, native hit his fifth homer on the season, clearing the bases to put Fontbonne ahead, 7-4.

The Blue Jays responded with two runs in the bottom of the seventh. However, in the top of the eighth, Schocker led off with a solo shot and gave the Griffins some breathing room, 8-6.

In the bottom of the eighth, though the Blue Jays got RBI singles from Strebler and Calvin to tie the game at 8-8. Then, Stiles reached base on a Griffins error which scored Clavin to put Westminster back out in front, 9-8.

In the ninth, Golich led off with a single and advanced up to second on the Blue Jays defensive error. Three batters later, Puckett Jr., came through once more with an RBI single to left. After a Siegler single, Schocker gave the Griffins a 10-9 lead on his single up the middle that scored Puckett, Jr.

In the home half of the ninth, the Blue Jays had the bases loaded after three consecutive walks. Price dug in and he took the 2-2 offering over the left field wall, giving Westminster a walk-off three-run win.

The Griffins look to bounce back tomorrow afternoon in the series finale. First-pitch at 1 p.m.

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