Griffins Get Back On The Winning Track Against King's College

AUBURNDALE, Fla.— The Fontbonne University baseball team snapped its three-game slide on Monday afternoon as they defeated King's College, 6-4.

The Griffins (4-5), scattered 10 hits, including seeing seven of the nine hitters have at least one hit. Tyler Grimes stood out at the No. 7 spot in the order, going 1-for-2 with three RBI. The top half, meanwhile, in Michael Golich, Jonathan Hoevelmann and Jackson Penrod combined to go 6-for-14 with two runs scored.

On the bump, Levi Earnest picked up his first win after going 5.1 innings, allowing two runs on three hits and striking out two. He also induced 12 Monarchs groundballs. Cole Lankford got the save as he tossed a scoreless ninth.

King's (0-4), also totaled 10 hits and Kyle Friebolin paced the offense going 2-for-4 with three RBI. On the mound, Billy Neill took the defeat after allowing five runs and striking out six in 4.2 innings of work.

It was a scoreless game up until the home half of the fourth. Tossick reached base on an error to lead things off.

After a single from Siegler, two stolen bases and an infield single from Gus Purschke, the bases were loaded for Grimes. He went on to reach on a fielder's choice, plating Tossick to make it 1-0.

The Griffins added onto its lead in the fifth. Golich and Hoevelmann got things started with consecutive singles. After a strikeout, Tossick added another single to load the bases for Siegler. He worked a four-pitch walk and that scored Golich (2-0).

Then, everyone moved up a base on a wild pitch, allowing Hoevelmann to touch home and now it was a 3-0 game. Grimes followed with a single to right, scoring Siegler and Tossick to put Fontbonne well out in front, 5-0.

The Monarchs chipped into that lead, though in the sixth. With the bases loaded and one out, Matt Mellinger singled to left, scoring Chris Rebar.

The Griffins made a pitching change after that as Hughes came out of the pen. He allowed an RBI single to Friebolin, but got Sean Padden to pop-out and Sean McKee to fly-out, keeping the Griffins ahead by three.

In the seventh, the Griffins tacked on another insurance run as Kenny walked with the bases loaded to score Siegler, who reached base on a one out walk earlier in the inning.

King's, though answered right back in the top half of the eighth. Kyle Lupas and Bruce Breithaupt reached base on a single and a double to put the Monarchs in business. Two batters later, Friebolin doubled to left, narrowing the deficit down to 6-4.

In the ninth, the Monarchs had the tying run at the plate with just one away but Lankford got the final two batters to groundout and strikeout looking to secure the win.

The Griffins return to action tomorrow afternoon against Aurora. First-pitch at 12 p.m.

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