Griffins team up to out-score Blackburn 16-1
St. Louis, Mo. - After a successful time at the plate, garnering 13 hits in game one against Blackburn College, Fontbonne softball struggled in the latter contest, earning just six hits as Emelia Modglin ended her 11-game hitting streak and Emily Smith a 10-game hitting streak. The Griffins won both conference games (12-0 and 4-1) and are now 8-2 in SLIAC play.
Game one
With a 1-0 lead, second baseman Alleigh Kruse tripled to increase the Griffin lead. Outfielder Sarah Kitchen singled to drive in Kruse as Fontbonne led 3-0 after the first inning. The Griffins scored four runs on five hits in the third inning as they left three runners on base.
Leading 7-0, Fontbonne plated five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning as the Griffins scored on two homers. Diamond Thomas lifted a long-ball over the fence in center field. The Griffins fence measures roughly 230 feet as the freshman recorded her first career grand slam and third home run in as many games. After a double play, Sam Brown recorded her team-leading fourth home run of the year on a solo shot to left.
Senior Madi Leonard struck out the side in the first inning, on her way to eight strikeouts on 13 at-bats over four innings. She then put away 10 more Beavers game two as she totaled 18 strikeouts over 11 innings for a 0.64 ERA on the evening. She allowed just three hits and one run on 35 at-bats.
Game two
Brown doubled to leadoff for Fontbonne and went to third on a flyout to center. She scored on a sacrifice fly to Modglin. After Schaefer walked and stole second, she scored the eventual winning run on a groundout to the shortstop by Maddy Strickland.
Blackburn scored their lone run in the fifth on a double, sacrifice bunt and groundout. The Griffins scored two more in the sixth inning as Brown recorded two RBI's on a single to right field.
The Griffins are off until Tuesday when they begin a crazy week of six games. Fontbonne hosts Illinois College in a non-conference doubleheader before turning around to host Greenville Wednesday for a big 5 p.m. conference doubleheader. Fontbonne ends the week at home on Saturday, April 23rd against Eureka, who is currently undefeated in SLIAC play.