Fontbonne Baseball Erases 11-Run Deficit, But Falls 14-13 Against Marian

AUBURNDALE, Fla.—The Fontbonne University baseball team erased an 11-0 deficit taking a 13-12 lead in the seventh, but the Marian Sabres scored twice more in the home half hanging on for the wild 14-13 win.

Marian opened in the first with a commanding 11-0 lead. Fontbonne started chipping away at the deficit in the third with Thomas Purschke hitting a single to left plating Colby Shivers, who reached base on a one out walk.

In the fourth, Carter Lee led off with a triple and scored off a wild pitch. With one on in the fifth, the Griffins Ty Kueper tripled to left bringing home Matt Helm. Purschke followed with another RBI single and now Fontbonne trailed 11-4.

Marian got another run back in the bottom half, but in the sixth the Griffins scored four runs on five hits with Grant Staffen, Shivers, and Helm each recording an RBI single, while Purschke had an RBI sacrifice-fly.

In the seventh, the Griffins trailed 12-8 and were in business early with Lee hitting a single and Noah Sainato earning a walk. After a sacrifice-bunt by Eric Creech and a walk to Staffen, Shivers reached base on an error allowing Lee to score.

Then, Helm dug in and cleared the bases with a double to left tying the game up, 12-12. After a pitching change, Purschke came through once more with a single giving Fontbonne a 13-12 lead.

However, the Sabres scored two more runs in the seventh and held off the Griffins charge for the one-run win.

Top Griffins

Matt Helm: 2-for-6, two runs scored, four RBI

Thomas Purschke: 3-for-3, four RBI

Colby Shivers: 2-for-4, three runs scored, two RBI

Grant Staffen, Ty Kueper: RBI each

Up Next

The Griffins will get a day off tomorrow and return to action early Thursday morning at 8:40 a.m. against Concordia Chicago.