Softball Closes Out Trip To Memphis With A Split Against Defiance And Rhodes

MEMPHIS, Tenn.— The Fontbonne University softball team earned another split on Saturday in Memphis as the team knocked off Defiance but fell in the finale against Rhodes.

Game One

Final: Fontbonne 9, Defiance 7

Location: Memphis, Tenn.

Records: Fontbonne 2-1, Defiance 0-3

How It Happened

In the first, Lilly Jones led off with a single and moved up to third after Grace Harlin reached base on an error. Then, Hannah Miener came up and belted her second homer on the season, this one a 3-run shot, to give the Griffins the early lead.

Fontbonne tacked on three more runs in the third, helped out by three Yellow Jackets errors to extend its advantage out to 6-0.

The Yellow Jackets got back into the game in the top of the fourth thanks to the long ball. Brooke Gostomsky and Sophie Moller each hit 2-run homers to trim Fontbonne's lead down to 6-4.

The Griffins, though answered right back in the home half. With two on and two out, Gracie Morris came through with a double to right-center, plating both Grace Harlin and Lilly Jones to give them an 8-4 lead.

The Yellow Jackets plated three more runs in the top of the fifth but Fontbonne got an RBI groundout from Lexi Becker to give them some breathing room, 9-7. Abby Richmond was able to close the door in the sixth and seventh to secure the two-run victory.

Defiance Notables

• Moller led in the RBI department with three for Defiance.
• Gostomsky and Jen Nashalsky combined to go 2-for-6 with two runs scored and four RBI in the 4-5 spots in the order.
• Hunter Schwochow took the loss allowing six runs (three earned) in 3.0 innings of work.

Fontbonne Notables

• Abby Richmond picked up her first win on the year after going 4.0 innings out of the pen, allowing three runs (two earned) and striking out two.
• The 3-4 hitters in Miener and Morris did damage combining to go 2-for-8 with three runs scored and seven RBI.
• Harlin went 3-for-4 with three runs scored.

Game Two

Final: Rhodes 11, Fontbonne 4

Location: Memphis, Tenn.

Records: Rhodes 6-3, Fontbonne 2-2

How It Happened

After Rhodes grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first, the Griffins responded in the second. Lexi Becker led off with a single and moved over to third on Morris' double.

Becker tied the game scoring on a passed ball and Patience Vandermeirden came through with an RBI sacrifice fly. In the next half inning however, the Lynx plated four runs on six hits and were assisted by three Fontbonne errors to lead 5-2.

Fontbonne added runs in the third and fourth on RBI from Lauren Proehl and Lexi Becker to put them within striking distance, 5-4.

The Lynx, though got a 3-run homer from Samantha Feinstein in the bottom of the fourth and tacked in three more runs between the fifth and sixth for the seven-run win.

Fontbonne Notables

• Jones and Harlin combined to go 4-for-6 with a run scored and RBI at the 1-2 spots in the lineup.
• Miener, Proehl, Becker, Morris, and Vandermeirden had one hit each.

Rhodes Notables

• Starter Lauren King went the distance allowing four runs on nine hits and struck out eight.
• Anna Kula and Lauren King had two hits and two RBI each.
• Seven of the nine Rhodes hitters had at least one RBI.

Up Next

The Griffins are back at home next Saturday against Carroll (Wis.). First-pitch at 11 a.m. The games will be played at O'Fallon Parks and Recreation Complex in O'Fallon, Ill.

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