Softball's Heartbreaking Regional Loss Ends Season

Bloomington, Ill.- Fontbonne University softball saw their 2014 season come to a disheartening loss against Lake Forest College on Saturday in a home run contest without head coach Bill Rosner calling the shots. Rosner was ejected after the previous game, prohibiting him from coaching the second regional game. 

After a rough first regional game, Fontbonne opened game two with back to back to back solo home runs in the top of the first inning by Marissa Simon, Cassi Glixman and Danni Glixman. Simon and Cassi each homered to right center. Danni hit a sky-high fly ball over the center wall.

Lake Forest hit a two-run home run in the bottom half of the inning, to trail by one. The Foresters then hit a grand slam over the 200ft fence, digging a hole for the Griffins. In the fourth, Sarah Cerutti hit her 12th home run of the season, capturing the Griffin single season home run record. Fontbonne trailed 6-4 and thought they had another run until Emily Smith was called out by the home plate umpire on a would-be sacrifice fly to left by Shannon Fitzpatrick. Fontbonne coaches and fans highly disagreed with the call.

Jessie Pratt doubled, scoring C. Glixman in the fifth as Fontbonne cut the Forester lead to one. Lake Forest homered in the bottom half, leading 7-5. A scoreless sixth inning brought the Griffins to the top of the seventh, knowing they must score two more runs or their season would end. Lake Forest brought in a new pitcher, but Fontbonne put their leadoff batter on base and were at first and second after a third baseman error. Pratt laid down a sac bunt for runners at first and third with one out. Cerutti was intentionally walked for the second time in a row to load the bases. Smith hit a hard grounder to second who bobbled the ball before throwing Smith out, and allowing C. Glixman to score the Griffin's sixth run. Caitlin Nappier pinch ran for D. Glixman and kept rounding third as she was told too late to stop, for the final out of the game.

Fitzpatrick and C. Glixman were named to the 2014 Bloomington Regional All-Tournament Team. Fitzpatrick went 3-for-7 with a home run, double, RBI and one walk. C. Glixman went 4-for-7 with a double, a home run, two RBIs, one walk and scored four runs.

Fontbonne ended their season 34-7, tieing the most wins in a season for the second year in a row. Graduating Griffins include center fielder Cerutti, shorstop Simon, second baseman Cara Hargate and outfielder Jessie Pratt.