Nineteen hits lead way for comeback victory over Millikin

St. Louis, Mo. - It was an exciting day to say the least for Fontbonne baseball fans. The Griffins were down 10-3 after four innings, but bounced back to take a 13-12 victory over Millikin University. The win is the first of the year for Fontbonne who is now 1-6 on the year.

Pitching

Sophomore Austin Earnest got the start, but was taken out after the first inning due to injury. Freshman Luke Summers came to the mound and gave up five runs on three hits in the second inning. The Vianney graduate had some more trouble in the fourth before striking out two Big Blue in a row, both swinging. Cole Lankford then came in for Fontbonne and pitched 5.1 innings. The junior gave up just one run and struck out three. During his time on the mound, the Griffins regained the lead for a short time before Millikin tied the game in the top of the ninth. Senior Joey Clemente relieved Lankford in the top of the 10th. He gave up one home run but pitched the Griffins to victory with four strikeouts across eight batters.

Scoring

Logan Mueth led Fontbonne on the day, going three-of-four with four runs batted in, two walks, two runs scored and one hit by pitch. Ethan Boyer, Ryan Schocker and Patrick Shuff were all three-of-six on the day with Boyer and Schocker each crossing the plate three times.

Boyer got the Griffins on the scoreboard first with a solo home run in the first that landed right over the yellow piping above the center field wall. In the third inning, Ben Greenway walked and crossed home after Schocker hit his first of three doubles of the day. Mueth then took first after being hit and Fontbonne scored their second run of the inning off Shuff's single.

In the fifth, Schocker doubled and came home off Mueth's single to second base. The Griffins left two on base as they trailed 10-4. Meanwhile, Fontbonne pitchers and their defense held Millikin scoreless across four innings while the Griffins raked in eight runs. Jonathan Hoevelmann had two great diving stops at third base for two outs which changed the momentum each inning they occurred.

In the bottom of the sixth, Millikin made a pitching change, catching change and first base change. That was also the inning where the Griffins scored three runs. Hoevelmann singled, stole second and took third on a wild pitch. After Boyer walked, Greenway earned two RBI's on a double. Mueth also hit a double to score Greenway. At this point Fontbonne trailed 10-7.

In the eighth inning, the Griffins scored four runs. Three singles, two walks, a passed ball, double and sacrifice fly gave Fontbonne an 11-10 edge headed into the ninth inning. The Griffins shook up things of their own, taking Boyer from shortstop to center field and shifting Ethan Borrowman to left field. Matt Tossick took Boyer spot in the infield. The plan worked...sort of. Lankford gave up a home run which tied the game, but with two outs and a runner on second, Millikin tried to take the lead. The ball was hit to left and Borrowman's throw home beat the runner, keeping the game tied. After a scoreless 10th, Millikin once again hit a solo home run, this time to take the lead. Schocker's sac bunt sent Boyer to third and Greenway to second with one out. Mueth was intentionally walked to load the bases. Freshman Dakota Keck pinch ran for Greenway. His speed, coupled with Borrowman's walk-off single up the middle (with two outs) capped off a great win for the Griffins. Fontbonne needed just one run to tie the game but head coach Ryan Good sent Keck home for the win.

Doubles: Ben Greenway; Ryan Schocker 3; Logan Mueth; Ethan Borrowman
Home Run: Ethan Boyer
RBI: Ethan Boyer; Ben Greenway 2; Ryan Schocker 2; Logan Mueth 4; Patrick Shuff; Ethan Borrowman 2; Jonathan Hoevelmann
Sac Bunts: Ryan Schocker; Patrick Shuff
Sac Fly: Jonathan Hoevelmann

Fontbonne hosts Dubuque University on Sunday for a doubleheader that begins at 11am.