Strickland Tosses No-Hitter In Game One Against Gorloks

ST. ANN, Mo.— It was a cold and windy evening out at ABC Park for Senior Day but that didn't stop Maddy Strickland from tossing a no-hitter in game one against Webster as the Griffins took the opener, 9-0 (5 inn.). In game two, though the Gorloks scored once in the first and that proved to be enough for the 1-0 victory.

Fontbonne 9 Webster 0

The Griffins (10-18; 10-2 SLIAC), offense was unstoppable in game one but Strickland stole the show with her performance. The hurler tossed 5.0 innings of hitless ball and struck out three batters as she needed just 74 pitches.

At the dish, the team finished with 12 hits and Melanie Russo led with her 3-for-3 performance, to go along with her three runs scored and one RBI. Maddie Cooksey went 2-for-3 and brought home a game-high three RBI.

Kaitlyn Johnson took the loss for Webster (11-11; 6-4 SLIAC) as she went 1.2 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) and struck out two.

With two outs and two on in the first, the Griffins got on the board thanks to an RBI single through the left side off the bat of Modglin.

In the second, the offense continued to stay hot. Russo hit a one-out double and she scored on Courtney Kedroski's single up the middle. After another single from Alleigh Kruse, the duo touched home on Cooksey's rope of a double to right-center.

From there, the Griffins plated three more in the third and two in the fourth for the nine-run mercy rule victory.

Webster 1 Fontbonne 0

In game two, it was a pitcher's duel between Morgan Mansur and Diamond Thomas. The duo combined for 14.0 innings, allowing just seven hits and striking out seven.

The Griffins finished with four hits in the night-cap as Kedroski, Kruse, Strickland and Emily Cardwell had one hit each. The Gorloks got its lone RBI off the bat of Terri Dearth.

In the first, Taylor White led off with a walk and advanced to third on two stolen bases. Then, Dearth singled up the middle to make it 1-0.

The Griffins had the tying run on base in both the fifth and sixth innings, however Mansur was able to get out of each jam.

Things got very interesting in the bottom of the seventh. Strickland led off with a single and was pinch-ran for by Emily McNiff.

She went on to steal second. After a walk to Modglin and a sacrifice-bunt by Emily Cardwell, the Griffins had the tying run on first and the game-winner on second.

Kayla Winkler worked a walk and now the bases were loaded for pinch-hitter Isabel Hotop. She hit a grounder back to the pitcher and Mansur came home for the second out in the inning. Thomas stepped in and she ripped a line drive right at the shortstop to end the game.

At the conclusion of the outing, the Griffins honored its five seniors Courtney Kedroski, Kayla Winkler, Isabel Hotop, Maddie Cooksey and Alleigh Kruse.

The team will now hit the road this weekend for an outing against Spalding on Saturday. First-pitch at 2 p.m.

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