Foppe Leads Fontbonne Softball Past Spalding to Advance to SLIAC Championship

PEORIA, Ill. – The Fontbonne University softball team faced Spalding University in the next round of the SLIAC tournament.  

Breakdown

Fontbonne's bats started to heat up in the bottom of the second inning. Lexi Becker started it out with a single to center field. Grace Harlin followed up with a double to center field, moving Becker to third. Ellie Bartlett hit a sacrifice fly, bringing home Becker to score. Harlin scored on the same play after a throwing error by right field. 0-2.

Spalding was able to generate some offense in the top of the fourth inning after a 3 hit inning, scoring 1 and leaving 2 on base. However, Fontbonne quickly answered back in the bottom of the inning. Gracie Morris singled to right field. Hannah Miener laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Morris to second. Lexi Becker singled with a bunt, moving Morris to third. Grace Harlin doubled to left center, scoring Morris. Ellie Bartlett singled up the middle, scoring Becker. Maddie Holtmeyer entered as a pinch runner for Bartlett and stole second. Sam Foppe had a bunt single to load the bases up. Logan Darrow grounded out to second base but earned an RBI as Harlin came home, 1-5.

The Griffins added two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Allysa Ibarra started it out with a walk and then stole second. Gracie Morris doubled to center field, moving Ibarra to third. Abby Richmond entered in as a pinch runner for Morris. Hannah Miener grounded out to the shortstop but scored Ibarra on the play. Lexi Becker continued to hitting streak with a single to left field, bringing around Richmond to score, 1-7.

Fontbonne's defense held Spalding scoreless in the last two innings to bring home another win in the SLIAC tournament, 1-7. Sam Foppe was stellar in the circle limiting Spalding to only one run in seven innings.

Top Griffins – Game 1:

Lexi Becker: 3-for-3 with 2 runs and 1 RBI

Gracie Morris: 2-for-3 with 1 run

Grace Harlin: 2-for-3 with 2 runs and 1 RBI

Sam Foppe: 7 IP with 6 hits, 5 strikeouts, and only 1 run

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 softball on all its social media accounts: Twitter (@FBU_Softball), Instagram (@fontbonnesoftball) and Facebook (@FontbonneSoftball).

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