Softball Wins Opener with Fontbonne

CARLINVILLE, IL -- The Blackburn College Softball team defeated Fontbonne University 1-0 in the first game of acSt. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader but fell 8-3 in the nightcap. 

The first game saw senior Shelby Koenig notch eight strikeouts and she now has 109 on the season. She also allowed just four hits to the defending SLIAC Champions. The Beavers managed to score the lone run of the game in the bottom of the first inning. Junior Breana Allen walked and sophomore Kenadee Frey singled followed by a walk from junior Zoe Mitchell. Junior Caroline Gibson was up next and her single to left field allowed Allen to score the winning run. 

The second game featured a two-run homer from freshman Mailee Schoen to put the Beavers up 2-0 in the fourth inning. Gibson had singled to get on base and also scored on Schoen's third home run of the season. 

The Griffins answered with three runs in the top of the fifth but BC responded with a run in the bottom of the inning. Allen got on with a single and reached third on Frey's double. An error then allowed Allen to score and tie the game at 3-3. 

However, Fontbonne scored five runs in the sixth which proved too much to overcome, giving the guests an 8-3 win. 

Frey, Schoen and senior Julianna Tabian both led the Beavers with three hits, with Frey posting two doubles.  

The Beavers are now 14-15 overall and 7-5 in league play. The team returns to action Saturday when they head to Mississippi University of Women for another SLIAC doubleheader.