Griffins Season Closes Against Linfield

The Fontbonne University softball team matched up against Linfield University in the loser's bracket of the NCAA Regional tournament.

Breakdown

Fontbonne entered game two of Regional action looking to improve on their performance from yesterday. Lead-off hitter, Lilly Jones, singled up the middle to start the top of the first inning. Allysa Ibarra walked, moving Jones to second. Gracie Morris laid down a sacrifice bunt, moving the runners to second and third. With runners in scoring position, the next to Fontbonne batters were sat down, stranding two. Linfield had a similar inning on offense with a single, a walk, but coming up scoreless, 0-0.

The second inning continued with the same offensive woes on both sides as both defenses did their job respectively. Fontbonne stranded one when Abby Alonzo drew a walk. Linfield also stranded one after drawing a walk also. The score remains 0-0 through two innings.

Both teams tried to get their bats hot in the third inning. Allysa Ibarra singled to the shortstop. Gracie Morris followed it up with a single to left field. Lexi Becker reached on a catcher's interference call, loading up the bases. Unfortunately, all three runners were stranded to keep the Griffins scoreless. The Wildcats experienced the same frustrations with stringing hits together but the bright spot of the inning was a solo homerun for Proffitt, giving the Wildcats a 1-0 lead.

The pitchers on both sides really brought their A-games through a scoreless fourth inning. Kassidy Chrisco walked, and Lilly Jones singled down the left-field line, but both runners were stranded. The Wildcats had a three-up, three-down inning to leave the score at 1-0.

It was only a matter of time before the Griffin offense woke up and the fifth inning was their best opportunity. Gracie Morris reached on an error by the shortstop and then advanced to second. Hannah Miener laid down a sacrifice bunt, moving pinch runner Sam Foppe to third. Lexi Becker singled to the shortstop. Grace Harlin singled to the shortstop, scoring Foppe. Ellie Bartlett reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Becker. Abby Alonzo singled to left center and Harlin scored on the play after an error by left field. Kassidy Chrisco walked to load up the bases but all three runners were stranded to end Fontbonne's offensive run. The Wildcats answered back with a run of their own on two hits, 2-3.

In the top of the sixth inning, the Griffins were not able to add to their lead as all three Fontbonne batters were stymied by the Wildcat pitcher on strikeouts. Unfortunately for Fontbonne, the Wildcats offense took advantage of the opportunity and scored two runs on four hits, giving them the lead 4-3.

With their backs to the wall, the Griffins had one last opportunity to come back. Grace Harlin got on with a lead-off walk. Pinch hitter, Grace Paez, laid down a sacrifice bunt moving Harlin to second, but Harlin was stranded as the next two batters struck out.

Fontbonne loses a heartbreaker in Marshall, Texas against #7 Linfield to end their NCAA Regional run. Fontbonne ends the season with a record of 22-19 and an overall team batting average of .324 and scoring 250 runs this season.

STORY COURTESY OF FONTBONNE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION