Fontbonne Wins Third Consecutive SLIAC Tournament Championship
ST. ANN, Mo. - The Fontbonne University softball team won the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) Tournament for the third straight year and a record sixth time, defeating Webster University with a dramatic walk-off two run single.
Fontbonne, the tournament’s #1 seed after winning the SLIAC regular season championship, fell behind Webster 4-0 in the top of the second inning. The Gorloks, #2 seed, got a three-run double from Sam Powers to help build their four-run advantage.
Fontbonne cut Webster’s lead to 5-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning. After a lead-off single by Shannon Fitzpatrick, Gorlok catcher Katylin Burczak caught the Griffin baserunner trying to steal second base for the first out. Fontbonne sophomore Marissa Simon then lined out to put Webster one out away from the victory. Fontbonne freshmen Cassi Glixman drew a walk while her twin sister, Danielle, lined a base hit to give the Griffins life. Sophomore Sarah Cerutti was hit by a pitch to load the bases followed by a walk to Sam Rosner to trim Webster’s lead to 5-4.
Webster then brought Trisha Thompson in relief to the mound to face Griffin second baseman Cara Hargate. Thompson quickly got two strikes on Hargate and after fouling off a couple pitches, Hargate drove a ball into the left field gap, scoring two runs and giving Fontbonne the tournament championship.
For the game, Webster’s Powers went 2-for-3 from the plate with three RBIs and two runs scored. Fontbonne’s Hargate also went 2-for-3 from the plate with four RBIs. Gorlok pitcher Ashley Meagher took the loss going six and two-thirds innings and allowing eight hits, five earned runs and striking out three batters. Fontbonne pitcher Kourtney VonBehren picked up the win throwing a complete game and allowing eight hits and five earned runs and striking out three batters as well.
Hargate was named the tournament's most valuable player and was joined on the All-Tournament Team by teammates Rosner, VonBehren and Rachel McCarthy. Webster's Powers, Julie Hartung and Tabitha Bahre also received All-Tournament Team honors, along with Blackburn College's Brianna Markel and Jessica Eichholz and Greenville College's Mattie Fairchild.
Fontbonne, 27-10 overall, receives an automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Division III Softball Tournament with the win. It marks the third consecutive season that they have qualified for the NCAA Tournament, and they will find out their next opponent on Monday, May 7, when the NCAA announces its tournament field.
Courtesy Fontbonne University sports information