Softball Starts Conference Play Off With A Sweep Over Blackburn

BLACKBURN, Ill.—The Fontbonne University softball team swept past Blackburn on Wednesday night as they took game one 9-4 and game two 9-3 (5 inn.) to extend its winning streak out to three.

Game One

Score: Fontbonne 9, Blackburn 4

Location: Blackburn, Ill.

Records: Fontbonne 2-10 (1-0 SLIAC), Blackburn 3-8 (0-1 SLIAC)

How It Happened

The Griffins got on the board in the first as Diamond Thomas reached base on an error to lead it off. Later in the inning, Maddy Strickland stepped in and ripped a two-run shot, her first on the year, to give Fontbonne a 2-0 lead.

Blackburn got one of those runs back in the home half, but Fontbonne's offense kept rolling in the second. Lexi Becker and Melanie Russo hit consecutive singles to start the inning.

Emily Cardwell brought Becker home with an RBI single to make it a 3-1 game. Abby Richmond extended the lead out to 4-1 on a sacrifice-fly to score Russo.

In the bottom of the third, though the Beavers made it a 4-3 contest on Halle Franen's two-run homer. However, the Griffins scored one in the fourth, another in the fifth, and three more in the seventh to secure the five-run win.

Fontbonne Notables

• Thomas picked up her second win on the year after allowing four runs on 12 hits and striking out a season-high eight.
• Strickland led at the dish going 3-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI.
• Emelia Modglin tied Strickland with two RBI.
• The 6-7-8 hitters of Becker, Russo, and Cardwell combined to go 6-for-9 with three runs scored and three RBI.

Blackburn Notables

• Starter Halle Fransen took the loss allowing six runs (five earned) in 5.0 innings.
• Fransen led them at the plate going 3-for-3 with a run scored and four RBI.

Game Two

Score: Fontbonne 9, Blackburn 3

Location: Blackburn, Ill.

Records: Fontbonne 3-10 (2-0 SLIAC), Blackburn 3-9 (0-2 SLIAC)

How It Happened

The Beavers grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first on a two-run homer from Brooke Daniels. The Griffins, though were able to tie the game in the third.

Thomas led off with a single and eventually advanced to third on Modglin's double. The duo came home on Strickland's two RBI single.

In the fourth, the Griffins put the game away. Gracie Morris led off with a solo shot, her first collegiate homer, to make it a 3-2 game.

After consecutive singles from Thomas and Grace Harlin, Thomas was able to score on Modglin's double to extend the advantage out to 4-2. Strickland kept the runs coming in with a two RBI of her own on another double to push the advantage out to 6-2.

Russo followed with a two RBI single and a bases loaded walk to Thomas gave Fontbonne a commanding 9-2 lead. Blackburn tacked another run in the home half, but the game was called in the fifth due to darkness to give Fontbonne the six-run win.

Fontbonne Notables

• Becker earned her first win on the year as she allowed three runs on seven hits in 5.0 innings.
• Strickland had another strong game at the dish going 3-for-4 with a run scored and four RBI.
• Russo went 1-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI.
• Modglin contributed three hits and an RBI as well.
• At the leadoff spot, Thomas extended her hitting streak out to nine going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI.

Blackburn Notables

• Kaitlyn Wade took the loss on the rubber allowing eight runs on 11 hits in 3.1 innings of work.
• Brooke Daniels led at the plate going 2-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI.

Up Next

• The Griffins are back in action on Saturday when they'll pay a visit to Monmouth. 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 softball team.

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