Fontbonne Edges, Pulls Away from Eureka

EUREKA – The Eureka softball team came close to coming back late against Fontbonne on Wednesday.

Down 4-0, the Red Devils scored four runs in the sixth inning to tie it up, but the Griffins plated the go-ahead run in the fourth and held on to win it, 5-4. The Griffins then rolled to a 14-2 win in Game 2.

Game 1: Fontbonne 5, Eureka 4

The Red Devils got their bats going late, with four runs on three hits and two Fontbonne errors coming in the sixth inning.

Macey Whisker (Washington, Ill./Washington/Illinois Central College) started it off with a leadoff. Then, Delaney Douglas (Sugar Grove, Ill./Kaneland) and Mackenzie Daniels (Monticello, Ill./Monticello) had back-to-back singles to load the bases.

Ashlyn Voyles (Farmer City, Ill./Farmer City) reached on a fielder's choice, but Whisker was out at the plate. Two batters later, pinch-hitter Alayla Thornton (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria) delivered a bases-clearing double to center field.

The game-tying run came on a throwing error that allowed Thornton to score two batters later before the inning ended with a strikeout.

In the seventh, however, the Griffins found a way to manufacture the go-ahead run with a single, a sac bunt, a groundout that moved the runner to third and an RBI single to make it 5-4.

The Red Devils couldn't find an answer in the bottom half, going down in order.

Eureka finished with four runs on five hits, with two coming from Bri Tanksley (Metamora, Ill./Metamora).

Game 2: Fontbonne 14, Eureka 2 (5 inn.)

Fontbonne jumped out to a six-run lead in the first inning.

Eureka recorded both of its runs in the third inning after an RBI double by Daniels scored Douglas and Whisker.

After that, though, the Griffins kept tacking on runs, adding three in the fourth and five in the fifth, and the Red Devils were unable to scratch any more across.

Up Next

Eureka (8-15) is scheduled to host Monmouth (1-21) in non-conference play on Thursday at Sweitzer Field at 2 p.m.