Griffins Complete Perfect Conference Season
The Fontbonne University softball team completed a perfect 2015 conference season, going undefeated during regular season play and then sweeping through the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament for their sixth consecutive title. The Griffins went 18-0 during the regular season, the most wins by a SLIAC team and just the fourth undefeated record in conference history, and then picked up three more wins during the tournament including a 5-0 win over Greenville Collge in the championship game.
The championship game got off to a fast start as the #2 seeded Panthers threatened from the start. Greenville's Bryn McKie drew a walk to start the game and moved to third on a single by Andrea Martin. Fontbonne pitcher Madison Leonard, the 2015 SLIAC Pitcher of the Year, settled down and induced an infield pop before recording a strike out for the second out. Another walk loaded the bases for the Panthers but Leonard escaped the jam with a strike out to end the inning.
The Griffins put their first batter of the game on in the bottom half of the first as Shannon Fitzpatrick singled. Cassie Glixman, the 2015 SLIAC Player of the Year, followed with a single of her own and Danielle Glixman gave the Griffins bases loaded with no outs after being hit by a pitch. A wild play ensued leading to the first run of the game. Emily Smith lifted a shallow fly ball to center field where McKie made a diving catch. Fitzpatrick tagged from third to score but McKie came up throwing to get the runner at trying to tag from second to third for a double play that kept the inning from any possible further damage.
The Panthers put their lead off runner on again in the second when Shannon Elbe walked. Leonard recorded the frame's first out with a strike out and then escaped once more when she caught a line drive back to the circle and threw to first for an inning ending double play.
The game remained 1-0 until the bottom of the third inning when Cassie Glixman sent the ball over the left field fence for a 2-0 score. Fontbonne plated two more runs in the fifth inning when again it was Glixman starting the damage. Cassie Glixman ripped a one out double off the left field fence. Her sister Danielle traded places with her on a near identical double to left that made the score 3-0. After a sacrifice bunt moved Glixman to third an error at third allowed her to score and put the Griffins up 4-0. The Griffins added a fifth run in the sixth inning when Caitlin Nappeir singled to score Samantha Brown.
After her rough start to the game Fontbonne's Leonard settled down and allowed just two hits over the final five innings of play. Leonard picked up the win, going seven innings and allowing three hits while striking out nine. Fontbonne out hit Greenville 10-3 in the game with Cassie Glixman leading the way with a 3-for-4 game. This is Fontbonne's sixth consecutive SLIAC Tournament title and their ninth in program history.
Following the game the 2015 SLIAC Softball All-Tournament was announced with Madison Leonard being named Tournament MVP. Her teammates Lauren Faulstich, Courtney Kedroski, and Caitlin Nappier were also named to the All-Tournament team. Greenville College's Hannah Burger, Bryn McKie, and Becca Oldham were also named to the All-Tournament team as were Spalding University's Kelci Flener and Kaylin Rucker and MacMurray College's Breezy Walton.