Griffins Sweep Past Iowa Wesleyan; Coach Cromwell Picks Up First Collegiate Wins

ST. ANN, Mo.—The Fontbonne University softball team picked up its first two wins on the season as they swept past Iowa Wesleyan 3-1 and 19-3 (5 innings) on Wednesday. Also, head coach Casey Cromwell picked up her first collegiate victories.

Fontbonne 3 Iowa Wesleyan 1

In game one, the Griffins (2-14; 2-0 SLIAC) got an outstanding performance out of starter Maddy Strickland. The High Ridge, Missouri, native went the distance, allowing just one run on three hits and struck out five.  

Offensively, the team scattered eight hits and two of which came off the bat of Courtney Kedroski, who also led with two RBI.

Iowa Wesleyan (1-13; 0-2 SLIAC), meanwhile, got two hits and an RBI off the bat of Jena Miller. Inside the circle, Samantha McIlwain pitched well but was dealt the loss as she tossed 6.0 innings, allowed three runs (two earned) and struck out five.

In the first, the Tigers got on the board. With one on and two outs, Miller hit a single to right field and that scored Serena Almodovar, making it a 1-0 game.

In the home half of the third, though the Griffins got the lead back for good. Emily McNiff led off with a single and moved up a base on Alyssa Pisarke's bunt single. After the duo each stole a base, McNiff scored on McIllwain's throwing error to home, tying it up at 1-1.

Then, Kedroski stepped in and ripped a single to center, plating Pisarek and Thomas and that extended the advantage out to 3-1.

That was more than enough for Strickland as she retired the final 12 batters she faced, allowing Fontbonne to go on for the two-run win.

Fontbonne 19 Iowa Wesleyan 3 (5 innings)

In game two, the bats came alive. The Griffins totaled a season-high 18 hits, scored 19 runs and stole a season-high five stolen bases.

Eight of the nine hitters in the lineup had at least one hit. Emelia Modglin had herself a game, going 4-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBI. Maddy Strickland went yard for the second time this season and finished with three RBI, while Melanie Russo went 2-for-4 with three RBI as well.

Strickland wasn't the only player to hit a homer as Thomas hit her first on the season and ended the game 3-for-5 with three runs scored. She also picked up her first win on the season, allowing three runs (two earned) and struck out one against IWU.

The scoring got started early and often for the Griffins. In the first, Thomas got things started with a solo blast out to left. Four batters later, with two on, Strickland hit a line shot just over the centerfield wall, extending the lead out to 4-0. McNiff got in on the action with an RBI single later in the inning, making it 5-0.

The Tigers tacked on two runs in the second, but in the bottom half, the Griffins got one of those runs back. Kedroski led off with a single and stole second. After a Tigers error, Modglin hit an infield single and that scored Kedroski.

The Griffins continued rolling from there, scoring seven runs in the third and six in the fourth, giving them the 19-3 win.

The team returns to the diamond at home this Saturday against Hanover. First-pitch will be thrown at 12 p.m.

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