Griffins Comeback Attempt Falls Short In Game Two Against Greenville

GREENVILLE, Ill.— The Fontbonne University softball team jumped back into conference play on Wednesday and despite its efforts, including scoring six consecutive runs in game two, the Griffins fell 2-0 in game one and 11-8 in game two against Greenville.

Game One

Score: Greenville 2, Fontbonne 0

Location: Greenville, Ill.

Records: Greenville 9-4 (3-0 SLIAC), Fontbonne 4-13 (2-1 SLIAC)

How It Happened

The scoring got started for the Panthers in the home half of the third. Maegan Stone led off with a single and moved up a base on a Griffins error.

After a single by Kayla Zimmerman, Deidra Holzhauer singled through the left side, plating Stone and Megan Barrett to make it a 2-0 game.

In the top half of the fourth, the Griffins had runners on second and third with two away, but Caiti Opp was able to get out of the jam.

Despite Griffins starter Maddy Strickland retiring the last five batters she faced, the Griffins offense was unable to get on the board against Opp as the Panthers went on for the two-run win.

Fontbonne Notables

• Strickland was inside the circle for the first time since March 9^th. The senior hurler allowed just two runs (one earned) and tied her season-high with four strikeouts.
• At the dish, Emelia Modglin went 2-for-2.
• Grace Harlin, Strickland, and Abby Richmond tied with one hit each.

Greenville Notables

• Opp improved to 5-0 on the rubber after striking out three and allowing five hits in her complete game outing.
• Holzhauer led at the plate going 2-for-3 with two RBI.

Game Two

Score: Greenville 11, Fontbonne 8

Location: Greenville, Ill.

Records: Greenville 10-4 (4-0 SLIAC), Fontbonne 4-14 (2-2 SLIAC)

How It Happened

In the first, the Panthers plated eight runs on eight hits and were helped by three Fontbonne errors to take the early advantage.

Fontbonne got one of those runs back in the second with Lexi Becker hitting a two out single. After advancing on a passed ball she scored on Gracie Morris' double to make it 8-1. The team continued to chip away in the third with Emily McNiff leading off with a single.

After a strikeout and a single by Grace Harlin, McNiff touched home on Emelia Modglin's sacrifice-fly to make it 8-2.

Greenville extended its lead out to 11-2 in the fourth on Beth Mersinger's 3-run shot, however, the Griffins wouldn't go away quietly.

In the fifth, McNiff and Diamond Thomas hit consecutive singles. Harlin reached base on a throwing error and that allowed McNiff to score to cut it down to 11-3. After a pop-out, Thomas was able to score on Maddy Strickland's RBI single.

Harlin went on to score on a double steal and Melanie Russo followed with her second homer in as many games to put Fontbonne down 11-6.

The team tacked on another run in the sixth on Harlin's RBI groundout that scored Abby Richmond, who led off with a single. In the seventh, Strickland kept the offense rolling with a single to center.

Two batters later, pinch-runner Alyssa Pisarek came on home on Becker's double to left-center to trim the deficit down to 11-8. However, the Panthers were able to retire the final two batters en route to the three-run win.

Fontbonne Notables

• The Griffins tied its season-high with 14 hits.
• Becker compiled a season-high three hits, to go along with a run scored and an RBI.
• McNiff also set a new season-high going 3-for-3 with two runs scored.
• Harlin had a new season-high withtwo RBI, while Strickland and Russo totaled two hits and an RBI each.

Greenville Notables

• Starter Maegan Stone improved to 3-0 after allowing six runs on nine hits in 4.2 innings pitched.
• Mersinger led at the plate going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a game-high five RBI.
• Megan Barrett went 3-for-3 with a run scored and RBI.
• Kendall Farr contributed a homer and two RBI as well.

Up Next

• The Griffins return home this weekend and first-up on Friday is Illinois College at ABC Ballpark. 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.

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