Softball upsets No. 12 Washington U. in Wydown Showdown sweep

St. Louis, Mo. -Two of the best pitchers in the NCAA Div. III Midwest region got the start for game one of the Wydown Showdown featuring Madi Leonard for Fontbonne and Annie Pitkin for the No. 12-ranked Washington University Bears. Both pitchers pitched the entire game with the Griffins taking the first game in extra innings (3-2) and completing the sweep with a 5-1 game two win for the upset.

Game one: Washington U's first batter almost hit a blooper over Cassi Glixman's head but the senior first baseman made the over-the-shoulder catch running towards right field. Leonard then struck out the next two Bears to end the inning.

Leading off in the fourth, Cassi tripled down the right field line as the right fielder failed to capitalize on her diving chance. Emily Smith went for the sacrifice bunt and Cassi headed home, scoring, allowing Smith to advance to second on the throw home. Lindsay Schaefer then hit a fly ball to right field, but Smith waiting to see if there was a catch, was out at third base. Schaefer then stole second and Pitkin got out of the inning on a Kedroski foul to the catcher. Fontbonne scored the one run in the fourth.

With two outs, the Bears' got on base on a doubled in the fifth inning. Washington U. brought in a pinch runner and pinch hitter but Leonard ended the inning with her 7th strikeout. In the sixth, the Bears hit an RBI single to left to tie the game 1-1, but Fontbonne caught the runner from first to third in a rundown for the third out.

In the seventh Fontbonne ended the Bear's leadoff walk threat and fielder's choice with a Smith-Kedroski connection catching the Bear trying to steal second.

In the eighth, Biles hit an RBI double to center scoring the would-be winning run for Washington U. Fontbonne's Faulstich advanced to third on a passed ball to open their chances in the eighth. Caitlin Nappier doubled to left on a ball that hit the fence to score the tying run (2-2). Fitzpatrick sacrificed Nappier to third for the 1st out. The Glixman sisters each walked and then Smith drove in the winning run on a hit by pitch. Leonard earned her 22nd win of the season.

Game two: Fontbonne had their way with the Bears starting pitcher, scoring four of their five runs in the first inning. The Griffins scored a run and had the bases loaded in the first with zero outs when Sam Brown singled to right field, scoring two more runs for the Griffins. Faulstich then drove in Smith on a hard line drive through the left side. The Bears replaced their pitcher to get out of the inning.

A scoreless second inning and Faulstich robs the Bears of a hit on a diving catch toward the pitcher. A scoreless third and fourth are followed by a Bears leadoff hit in the fifth to center. Fontbonne converts the double play and Schaefer ends the top half of the inning on a strikeout.

Cassi led off the fifth with a double down the left field line and Smith sent a deep fly ball to left center that resulted in a sacrifice fly as the left fielder dove to catch the ball allowing Cassi to score from second base. In the sixth inning, Washington U. threatened offensively, putting two runners on with hits in the infield. An error loaded the bases with one out and an unearned run was scored on a fielder's choice. A walk loaded the bases with two outs but Schaefer forced a groundout to second to get out of the jam.

Leonard entered in the seventh to close out the sweep. The Bears singled to lead off, but in prime Leonard fashion, the junior struck out each of the next three batters. Schaefer recorded her fourth win of the year.

Fontbonne will look to win their sixth consecutive SLIAC Tournament title next week. The Griffins will play Thursday at Principia College in Elsah, Ill. at 4 p.m. versus an opponent to be determined.