Fontbonne Softball Claims Top Spot In SLIAC Preseason Poll

ST. LOUIS, Mo.—The St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) released its 2022 Softball Preseason Poll and the reigning SLIAC Regular Season Champions hold the top spot.

The Griffins collected 44 points and two first place votes, while the reigning SLIAC Tournament Champions, Webster Gorloks, slide in at second with 43 points and five first place votes. Spalding came in third with 33 points and Westminster rounded out the top four with 29 points.

Fontbonne comes off a 19-18 overall record from a season ago and went 10-4 in conference play to claim its first SLIAC Regular Season Title since 2016.

In the SLIAC Tournament, the Griffins opened with a 6-0 win over Blackburn and followed it up with a 2-1 victory over Iowa Wesleyan. However, the Griffins season came to a close after consecutive losses to Webster (6-4) and Spalding (7-3).

This year, the Griffins return seven of its eight All-Conference selections led by Grace Paez who batted a team-high .417, totaled 48 hits, seven doubles, and 32 RBI.

Lexi Becker returns for her senior campaign after hitting .393, while setting new career-highs in hits (46) and runs scored (36). Lilly Jones is back after having a career-year in average (.352), hits (37), runs scored (30), doubles (six), and RBI (18).

A few other players to keep an eye out for include Grace Harlin, Patience Vandermierden, Hannah Miener and Gracie Morris.

Harlin, a Findlay, Ill., native, hit .340 last year while setting new career-highs in hits (35), runs scored (23), and RBI. Vandermierden batted .327 to go along with her 32 hits, while Miener hit her way to a .289 clip and led the Griffins with five home runs.

Gracie Morris, who was named to the SLIAC First Team, returns after dominating conference foes with a .381 average, four homers, and 19 RBI.

Inside the circle, the Griffins compiled a team ERA of 3.73 led by Abby Richmond who went 8-5 in 88.1 innings of work, struck out 25 batters, and ended with a 1.98 ERA. Michaela Mason collected seven wins in 69.1 innings pitched, struck out a team-high 37 hitters, and earned a 3.94 ERA.

This year, the Griffins welcome in 10 newcomers in Madelyn Holtmeyer, Kassidy Chrisco, Abby Alonzo, Madison Greco, Allysa Ibarra, Alaina Hotop, Hailey Kutz, Sam Foppe, Ellie Bartlett, and Hannah Borgmeyer.

To view the entire poll visit HERE.

About Fontbonne University

Fontbonne University is a private, Catholic liberal arts university located in St. Louis, committed to a transformative education and inspiring students to become global citizens who think critically, act ethically and serve responsibly. The university, founded in 1923, is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. For more information, visit www.fontbonne.edu 

Make sure to follow the softball team on all its social media accounts: Twitter (@FBU_Softball), Instagram (@fontbonnesoftball) and Facebook (/FontbonneUGriffins).