Fontbonne Rolls To Fifth Consecutive Title
HIGHLIGHT VIDEO
The Fontbonne University softball team picked up their fifth
consecutive St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Tournament title with a 6-1 win over Greenville College in the
championship game.
Fontbonne rolled through the 2014 tournament, out scoring their opponents 21-3 in three games. The Griffins scored runs in the first inning of all three games including plating two runs in the opening frame of the championship game against Greenville.
Against Greenville Fontbonne lead-off hitter Shannon Fitzpatrick walked and promptly stole second base. Marissa Simon followed in the lineup, and after missing on a bunt attempt, did one better with an RBI single to left. Simon would eventually come around to score on an error to give Fontbonne the quick 2-0 lead. The Griffins tacked on another run in the third when Danni Glixman doubled in Simon to put the Griffins up 3-0.
Greenville's best chance came in the fourth inning when they started the inning with a Becca Oldham walk. Shannon Elbe followed with a one out single while Anaya Tobiason reached on a two out single to load the bases. The inning came to an end though when Fontbonne's Madison Leonard forced a fly out to left-field, leaving the bases loaded.
Fontbonne extended their lead in the bottom of the fourth when Schaefer doubled in Hargate to make the score 4-0. Simon would extend the Griffins lead to 6-0 with a two run single in the sixth inning. Greenville was finally able to get on the board in the seventh when Mattie Fairchild hit a solo home run for the final score of 6-1.
Fontbonne's Madison Leonard picked up the win going seven innings and allowing one run on six hits while striking out 10. She go on to earn All-Tournament MVP honors after recording all three wins for the Griffins on the weekend. Joining Leonard on the All-Tournament team are teammates Emily Smith, Shannon Fitzpatrick and Lindsay Shaefer; from Greenville Tiffany Samsoe, Hannah Burger, and Mattie Fairchild; from Spalding Becca Mouser and Kelci Flener; and from Westminster Brittany Lee.
