Softball Earns Come-From-Behind Win Against Defiance, Falls In Game Two Against Rhodes

MEMPHIS, Tenn.— The Fontbonne University softball team earned a split on Saturday to open its 2020 campaign where they defeated Defiance in extra innings but fell 2-0 against host Rhodes to close out the afternoon.

Game One

Final: Fontbonne 12, Defiance 10 (8 inn.)

Location: Memphis, Tenn.

Records: Fontbonne 1-0, Defiance 0-1

How It Happened  

In the first the Griffins struck early. Grace Harlin led off with a one out walk and moved her way over to third on a stolen base and on Hannah Miener single to right.

After a stolen base from Miener and Lauren Proehl getting hit-by-pitch, the bases were loaded for Lexi Becker. She singled and advanced to second on a throwing error by the second baseman, allowing both runners to come on home to give them a 2-0 lead.

In the second, with Gracie Morris on third and Lilly Jones on second after both came away with singles earlier in the inning, Grace Harlin made it a 3-0 game on a single to left. Two batters later, Jones scored from third on a wild pitch to give Fontbonne a 4-0 lead.

However, in the bottom half of the inning, the Yellow Jackets plated four runs on five hits, highlighted by Makenzie Wilson's two RBI triple to center to make it a brand new ball game.

In the home half of the third, the Yellow Jackets extended its lead out to 7-4 after scoring three more runs on three hits.

Fontbonne got one of those runs back in the next half inning. Daisy Watkins got things started with a one out double to right-center. Jones stepped in and traded places with Watkins with a double of her own to trim the deficit down to 7-5.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Yellow Jackets answered with an RBI double coming off the bat of Brooke Gostomsky to give them some breathing room with an 8-5 advantage.

In the seventh though, Harlin led off with a single. Miener dug in at the dish and she belted a two-run shot, her first on the season, to make it an 8-7 contest. After a pitching change, Proehl kept the line moving with a triple down the right field line.

Alyssa Pisarek singled to short and she advanced to second on a throwing error by the shortstop, allowing Proehl to score and tie it up, 8-8.

In extra innings, Patience Vandermierden was placed on second. She didn't have to wait long to start the inning with Gracie Morris hitting her first homer on the year to give Fontbonne a 10-8 lead.

The offense didn't stop there as after a flyout, the Griffins got back-to-back singles from Jones and Harlin. Miener once again came through clearing the bases with a double to left to give Fontbonne a 12-8 lead.

Defiance added two more runs in the bottom of the eighth but that'd be as close as they'd get with the Griffins hanging on for the wild win.

Fontbonne Notables

• Hannah Miener led at the No. 3 spot in the order going 3-for-5 with two runs scored and four RBI.
• At the 1-2 spot, Jones and Harlin combined to go 6-for-9 with five runs scored and two RBI.
• Becker and Morris added two RBI each, while Pisarek added the other.
• Inside the circle, Skylar Freeman earned the win after going 5.0 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits.

Defiance Notables

• Kalin Hubble led the offense going 4-for-5 with a run scored and one RBI.
• Makenzie Wilson led in the leadoff spot going 1-for-5 with two RBI.
• Reliever Jennifer Kaffenbarger took the loss after allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits in 2.0 innings of work.

Game Two

Final: Rhodes 2, Fontbonne 0

Location: Memphis, Tenn.

Records: Rhodes 4-2, Fontbonne 1-1

How It Happened

In the bottom of the first, Peyton Clark reached base on a one out single. After stealing second and moving over to third on a wild pitch, the Lynx grabbed a 1-0 lead on Lauren King's RBI single to center.

In the second, the Lynx pushed the lead out to 2-0 on an RBI sacrifice fly off the bat off Leslie Matherne which scored Shannon Tierney who led off with a single up the middle.

The Griffins would bring the tying run to the plate in the seventh but Madison Keller was able to earn the shutout win for Rhodes.

Fontbonne Notables

• Patience Vandermierden, Abby Richmond, and Lilly Jones each had one hit.
• Abby Richmond took the tough loss after going 4.1 innings, allowing two runs on four hits.

Rhodes Notables

• Anna Kula, Peyton Clark, King, Marisa Moore, and Shannon Tierney each had one hit.
• Keller went the distance allowing just three hits and striking out four.

Up Next

The Griffins will face the same two teams tomorrow against Defiance at 10 a.m., followed by Rhodes at 2 p.m.  

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