Mason Strikes Out Career-High 12 In Game One, Griffins Erase 10-Run Deficit In Game Two For Sweep Of Monmouth

ST. ANN, Mo.—The Fontbonne University softball team had quite the night on Wednesday coming away with a 3-1 win in game one over Monmouth and after trailing 10-0 in game two the team clawed its way back for the wild 11-10 (8) victory.

Gm1 Final:

Fontbonne 3, Monmouth 1

How It Happened

After a scoreless three innings, the Fighting Scots took a 1-0 lead in the fourth. The Griffins answered right back with Grace Harlin bringing home Lilly Jones, who reached base on a fielder's choice, tying the game up at 1-1.

Fontbonne put the game away in the next half inning with Logan Darrow leading off with a walk. After a sacrifice bunt and a single from Lexi Becker, Darrow scored on a fielding error by the third baseman to give the Griffins a 2-1 lead. Grace Paez followed with an RBI single of her own to give them a 3-1 advantage.

With Michaela Mason on the mound that was more than enough as despite the Fighting Scots having runs on second and third with one down in the seventh, the Bonne Terre, Mo., native got the next two batters to strike out giving them the 3-1 victory.

Fontbonne Leaders

• Mason was the story for Fontbonne earning her first win on the year and sitting down a career-high 12 batters.
• Grace Harlin went a season-high 3-for-3 with an RBI.
• Grace Paez went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Gm2 Final:

Fontbonne 11, Monmouth 10 (8)

How It Happened

It was a scoreless game until the top of the third when the Fighting Scots plated 10 runs to take the commanding lead.

In the bottom half of the inning, the Griffins started to chip away at the lead. Patience Vandermeirden and Abby Richmond (two) each picked up at least one RBI with consecutive singles.

The line kept moving in the next half inning with Paez, Sara Joines, and Hannah Miener each bringing home an RBI to make it a 10-6 game.

After a scoreless fifth, the Griffins kept coming with Lilly Jones and Vandermeirden each getting two more runs to cross home and now it was a 10-8 contest.

Down 10-8 in the seventh, the inning didn't disappoint. Madison Galczyski led off with a walk and moved up a base on Harlin's single.

Becker followed with an infield single of her own to load up the bases for Paez, who extended her hitting streak out to eight tonight, with a single allowing Galczyski to score and make it 10-9.

With two outs, Lilly Jones was at the dish with runners on second and first. She was able to connect on a single just past the third baseman allowing Becker to come on home and it was a brand-new ball game, 10-10.

In extras, the Griffins wasted no time making the comeback complete. Vandermeirden led off with a bunt single. After stealing second, she was able to score on Abby Richmond's line drive single to center for the unforgettable come-from-behind 11-10 victory.

Fontbonne Leaders

• Becker, Paez, Jones, and Vandermeirden each contributed three hits.
• Richmond went 2-for-5 with three RBI.
• Jones reached base five times along with tying her season-high with two runs scored and two RBI.
• Harlin went 2-for-4 with a run scored at the leadoff spot.
• Richmond earned her first win on the season in relief action going 5.2 innings, allowing no earned runs and striking out a season-high five.

Up Next

The team returns to the diamond this Saturday when they'll host Rose-Hulman. First-pitch at 1 p.m.

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

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