Griffins now 16-11 after doubleheader sweep of Illinois College

St. Louis, Mo. - Fontbonne softball avoided the rain and defeated Illinois College 7-2 and 4-2 today to improve to 16-11 overall. The Griffins are back in action at ABC Ball Park tomorrow, to host conference rival Greenville College in a doubleheader at 5 p.m.

On the day, Emelia Modglin and Courtney Kedroski each homered while Alleigh Kruse went three-of-three in the second game with two runs scored, a double, an RBI and a walk. Illinois College worked the third-base line as Modglin assisted eight times and recorded three putouts.

Game one

Fontbonne got off to a hot start as they led 3-0 after the opening inning. Maddie Cooksey doubled, Modglin walked and Emily Smith singled to left to load the bases. Senior Lindsay Schaefer hit a fly ball down the right field line for two bases. She earned all three RBI's but was out at third as the anticipated throw home went to third instead.

Fontbonne took a 6-0 lead after scoring three runs in the third inning after Modglin led with a solo home run to center. Smith reached first as she was hit by a pitch and took second when Schaefer walked. Both runners scored when Diamond Thomas singled through the left side but the left fielder bobbled the ball.

Illinois College scored their only runs in the fourth as Madi Leonard got into trouble in the circle. The runs were scored on two hits, an error and two walks, all with zero outs. Fontbonne got out of the inning on a double play as Kruse tossed the ball to Kedroski at second who bare-handed the catch and threw the force-out at first.

Kedroski scored the Griffins' seventh run on a solo homer to left center in the fifth inning. Leonard tallied 14 strikeouts in her complete-game victory.

Game two

Maddy Strickland got the start for Fontbonne as she threw four strikeouts over three innings. The freshman got into trouble early allowing the first two visitors to walk. The bases loaded when the Griffins were called off the bag at first as Illinois College went for the sacrifice bunt. A sac fly to center scored the first runner of the contest but Strickland finished the inning with a foulout to Smith behind the plate and a strikeout swinging.

The Griffins scored three runs in the second on four hits. Schaefer singled and beat the fielder's choice throw to second on Kedroski's hit to third base. Thomas planted a bunt that popped up. Illinois College's first baseman was directly in front of the catcher who picked up the ball, in the way of the throw to first as the speedy Thomas was already at the bag anyway. Kruse stepped up with the bases loaded and zero outs. She singled through the right side to tie the game and allow Sarah Kitchen to create some damage. Kitchen hit a nice little blooper that the shortstop jumper up and caught the ball over her shoulder. Her throw home was too late as Kedroski scored but Illinois College's catcher threw a lazer to third to erase Thomas for the second out. Cooksey drove in Kruse on a hit to center.

Michelle Boyer came in to pitch in the fourth for Fontbonne when Illinois College earned their final run of the night on two hits, a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch.

Fontbonne added an insurance run in the sixth after Kruse doubled and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Kitchen. She scored as Cooksey sac flied to center.