Griffins Fall On The Road Against Westminster

FULTON, Mo.—The Fontbonne University softball team went into today's outings against Westminster with hopes of dealing them its first conference losses, however, the Blue Jays fended off the Griffins for the 4-3 win in game one and picked up an 8-2 victory in the finale.

Westminster 4 Fontbonne 3

In game one, the Griffins (11-21; 11-5 SLIAC) compiled four hits off the bats of Maddie Cooksey, Courtney Kedroski, Emelia Modglin and Melanie Russo.

Inside the circle, Maddy Strickland, who was just named SLIAC Pitcher of the Week, went 6.0 innings, allowing four runs on nine hits and struck out two.

The Blue Jays (16-14; 12-0 SLIAC), saw Amber Tepen homer in the win. On the rubber, Katie Price went the distance allowing one earned run and struck out seven.

In the first, Emily Holloway led off with a single and she scored two batters later on Tepen's homer. The Griffins got one of those runs back in the second.

Modglin got things started with a one out single. Consecutive walks to Emily Cardwell and Kayla Winkler loaded up the bases for Russo. She came through with a single to left-center, allowing Modglin to come on home and make it a 2-1 game.

The Blue Jays, though answered with two more runs in the bottom half of the inning and extended its advantage back out to 4-1. In the third, Kedroski led off with a double. She went on to steal third and score on a throwing error by the Blue Jays catcher narrowing the deficit down to 4-2.

In the fifth, the Griffins plated another run. Cooksey hit a one out double down the left field line. Kedroski reached base on a fielder's choice but on the play Price made an error and Cooksey came on in to score.

That'd be as close as they'd get, though with Price retiring the side in the sixth and seventh innings to give them the one-run win.

Westminster 8 Fontbonne 2

In game two, the Griffins concluded with six hits while Cardwell and Winkler each contributed an RBI. Maddy Strickland, Isabel Hotop and Diamond Thomas all saw action on the rubber for Fontbonne. Thomas, though took the tough loss after allowing four runs (one earned) in an inning of work.

The Blue Jays, meanwhile, finished with 10 hits and were led by Brooke Laidley in the No. 2 slot as she went 3-for-4 with a run scored and three RBI.

Madison Ingram got the no-decision for Westminster in her 5.0 innings of work. Price came on in relief and held Fontbonne scoreless the final 2.0 innings to pick up her 11^th victory on the year.

The game remained scoreless up until the third when Laidley hit a two-run homer giving Westminster the early lead.

Fontbonne answered right back in the fourth. Strickland worked a one out walk and moved up to second on Modglin's single. Cardwell followed with a single to right and Strickland raced into score.

In the sixth, the Griffins were able to tie the game. Strickland led off with a single up the middle. Price came on in relief to face Modglin and she moved Strickland up to second on a sacrifice bunt.

Two batters later, Winkler brought Strickland home with a single to right and now it was a brand new game at 2-2.

In the bottom half, the Blue Jays scored six runs on six hits and they went on for the six-run win.

The Griffins will conclude its regular season this Saturday in two key SLIAC outings against Eureka at ABC Park. First-pitch at 3 p.m.

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