Strickland And Cardwell Homer In Griffins Game One Win Over Spalding

LOUISVILLE, Ky.— The Fontbonne University softball team earned a split against Spalding on Saturday as the Griffins took game one 6-1, however, the Golden Eagles played spoiler with a 3-1 win in game two.

Fontbonne 6 Spalding 1

In game one, the Griffins (11-19; 11-3 SLIAC) scattered 10 hits and got a stellar pitching performance out of Maddy Strickland. The High Ridge, Missouri, native picked up her fifth straight win to improve to 6-8 on the season after going the distance allowing one run on four hits and striking out five.

At the plate, she helped herself hitting her seventh homer on the season to finish 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Emily Cardwell went on to belt her first collegiate home run. Emelia Modglin also had a strong day at the plate going 3-for-4 with an RBI.

In the first, with two on and two outs, Modglin stepped in and came through with a double to left-center. Kedroski, who singled earlier in the inning, came around and scored to make it 1-0.

The Griffins added another run in the second and third to take a 3-0 lead. The Golden Eagles got one of those runs back on an RBI single from Olivia Carter in the fourth.

However, in the fifth, the Griffins put away the game for good. Alleigh Kruse led off with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Two batters later, she trotted on home on Strickland's homer to left-center.

After a fly-out, Cardwell hit a solo shot of her own to left-center and now the Griffins were on top, 6-1. That was more than enough for Strickland as she allowed just one base runner the final two innings, securing the five-run win for the Griffins.

Spalding 3 Fontbonne 1

In game two, the offense was held to just four hits as Olivia Carter picked up her eighth win on the season for Spalding. The hurler tossed a complete game four hitter and struck out one.

Kedroski picked up the lone RBI, while she and Cardwell extended its hitting streaks out to seven apiece. Inside the circle, Brianna Durant took the tough loss after going 2.0 innings, allowing two runs on five hits and striking out one.

Spalding (15-10; 7-3 SLIAC), ended with nine hits and they were led by Carter going 2-for-3 with two RBI. Addison Morris added the other RBI to finish 1-for-2 with a run scored.

The Golden Eagles got on the board first this time around. Morris led off with a walk and advanced to second on a ground-out. Carter went on to bring her in with a single to center.

They added another run in the second but the Griffins got one of those back in the third. Diamond Thomas pinch-hit and worked a walk. After a stolen base and a ground-out she scored on Kedroski's RBI ground-out.

Carter, though added another RBI single in the fifth to extend the lead out to 3-1. The Griffins had the tying run come to the plate in the sixth and seventh innings, though Carter closed the door for the two-run win.

The team returns to action on the road next Tuesday in a key SLIAC outing against unbeaten Westminster (14-12; 10-0 SLIAC). First-pitch will be thrown at 3 p.m.

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