Griffins take Blackburn series 2-1; Wallis hits two home runs

St. Louis- After losing game one on Friday night 6-3, Fontbonne was ready to avenge their loss.

Round two started off much better for the Griffins as they scored in the first off a Zach Carel double. In the second inning, Fontbonne first scored two unearned runs before Matt Wallis hit a three-run home run over the left field fence. The Griffins led 6-0 until Blackburn scored two unearned runs in the fourth. Another Fontbonne run in the bottom half of the inning gave Fontbonne the 7-2 edge. Blackburn's Mokriakow answered with a grand slam to left in the fifth with an added unearned run before the third out to tie the game. Wallis and Carel each doubled in the sixth for three more RBI's. Blackburn had the bases loaded with zero outs in the seventh but Graves and the defense put the next three batter's away for the 10-7 win.

Jacob Becker pitched five innings with five strikouts while allowing three earned runs on six hits. Dustin Graves picked up the win, allowing one hit in his two innings of work. Wallis was 3-3 with a single, double and homerun while adding a walk. Carel was 3-4 with two doubles. Both outfielders totaled four RBI's during their first Saturday contest.

Blackburn's only run scored of game two was on an error in the second inning. Patrick Shuff got the Griffins on the scoreboard first as he drove in two runs with his single to left. Andy Knipmeyer and Alex Roedner each doubled back to back in opposite directions for two more Griffin runs. A third-inning triple by Alex Hill scored Nick Platipodis. Hill crossed home plate on a passed ball, giving Fontbonne a 6-1 lead. Wallis came up big, swinging for the fences yet again with his second three-run home run of the day. Leading 9-1 in the seventh with two outs, and Rob Berger on first, Ethan Boyer singled to center field, taking Berger to third. Roedner stepped up to the plate, doubled to left, scoring the game-winning run for the ten-run rule.

Caleb Tatum was the sole Griffin pitcher, allowing just three hits while striking out four batters. Wallis exceled once again, hitting on three of four at-bats with his home run, a walk and three RBI's. Roedner smashed two doubles as he went 2-3 with two walks in game two.

The Griffins are now 19-12 overall and 13-5 in St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play. Fontbonne hosts MacMurray for a 9-inning solo game on Tuesday, April 22 at 5pm.