Softball Sweeps Past Northwestern (Minn.) And Houghton To Close Out Florida Trip

CLERMONT, Fla.—The Fontbonne University softball team closed out its trip to Florida with a sweep over Northwestern (Minn.) in walk-off fashion and scattered 16 hits in a win over Houghton to close out the day.

Game One

Final: Fontbonne 2, Northwestern (Minn.) 1

Location: Clermont, Fla.

Records: Fontbonne 4-7, Northwestern (Minn.) 2-5

How It Happened

It was a pitcher's dual throughout but in the bottom of the sixth the Griffins finally broke through. Daisy Watkins led off with a double. After a sacrifice bunt and a fly-out, Hannah Miener ripped a double to left plating Watkins and giving Fontbonne a 1-0 lead.

In the seventh, though the Eagles answered right back. Courtney Schmidt led off with a single. She was able to score two batters later on Briggs Carlson RBI single to center to tie the game.

In the bottom half, Skylar Freeman reached on a fielder's choice and moved up to second on Patience Vandermeirden's single. The duo moved up a base on a passed ball and Freeman was able to score the game-winning run on Lexi Becker's double to right for the walk-off win.

Northwestern Notables

• Lexi Kopacek took the tough loss allowing just two runs on six hits.
• Briggs Carlson led the way at the dish going 3-for-3 with an RBI.

Fontbonne Notables

• Abby Richmond improved to 2-2 on the year allowing just one run and sitting down four over her complete game outing.
• Vandermeirden finished 2-for-3.
• Miener extended her hitting streak out to six going 1-for-3 with an RBI.
• With her pinch-hit RBI Becker has reached safely in her last six and extended her hitting streak out to five.

Game Two

Final: Fontbonne 6, Houghton 3

Location: Clermont, Fla.

Records: Fontbonne 5-7, Houghton 3-5

How It Happened

The Griffins didn't wait long getting o the board. Lilly Jones led off with a walk and went on to score on Hannah Miener's bunt to give them a 1-0 lead. After a single from Gracie Morris and a walk to Lexi Becker, the bases were loaded for Lauren Proehl.

Proehl came through with a single to right to make it a 2-0 lead. Skylar Freeman kept the line moving and the runs coming in with a single of her own to extend the advantage out to 3-0.

Houghton got two of those runs back in the second but Fontbonne answered in the third. Proehl and Freeman reached base on consecutive singles with two outs. Patience Vandermeirden followed with an RBI single to bring home Proehl to give Fontbonne some breathing room, 4-2.

Houghton once again cut the deficit down to 4-3 in the next half inning but Fontbonne capitalized on two Houghton errors in the fourth to cross two more runs. Reliever Michael Mason retired the side in the fifth, sixth, and seventh to secure the win.

Fontbonne Notables

• Mason earned her first win on the year after tossing 4.1 innings of shutout ball out of the pen.
• Proehl had her first three hit day at Fontbonne going 3-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI.
• Freeman, Becker, and Morris added two hits each.

Houghton Notables

• Starter Kayla Loomis took the loss after registering just one out, allowing three runs on four hits.
• McKenzie Marti was one of six players with one hit and led with two RBI.

Up Next

The Griffins are back in action next Friday when they'll travel down the road to take on WashU. First-pitch at 12 p.m.

Fans make sure to stay updated on fontbonnegriffins.com throughout the year for full updates and recaps on the softball team.

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