Fulton, Mo., April 17, 2021 – The Blue Jay baseball team came into Saturday's conference doubleheader against the conference leading Fontbonne University Griffins after eight days off since their last game. The Griffins bested the Blue Jays 4-0 in game one and then held on to win game two 7-6 after holding off a late Jays rally. The losses dropped the Blue Jay record to 9-12 overall and 6-8 in SLIAC play.
Game 1 BOXSCORE
Game one saw the Blue Jays struggle to get anything going at the plate. The long lay off and a heavy dose of the Griffins ace Luke Summers were too much for the Blue Jays to overcome. The Jays were limited to just two hits in the game by the Griffin hurler.
The Griffins got on the board first in the top of the 4th inning with a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0. The Griffins would then score two runs in the top of the 5th inning on a bases loaded walk and a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0. Fontbonne's Carter Lee would hit a solo home run to cap the run scoring in the top of the 6th.
Austin Mayton and Coltin Green were the only Blue Jays to record hits. Chase Holder (1-2) had a solid outing giving up 4 runs on 5 hits while walking two and striking out 4. Bode Gebbink came on in relief and threw three scoreless innings.
The offense just couldn't get going thanks in Large part to Summers (2-2) who threw a complete game 2-hit shutout. He struck out 9 batters including breaking the SLIAC Career strikeout record with his 336th career strikeout.
Game 2 BOXSCORE
Game two would start with the Griffins striking first and taking a 2-0 lead as we headed to the bottom of the 3rd inning. Mayton would start the inning with an infield single deep in the hole at shortstop. Parker Schnieder would reach on a fielder's choice as Mayton was out at second. Steven Diaz then walked to put runners at first and second. Bryce McKinnon then singled sharply to left field to load the bases. It was then Payton Whitehead would come through with a huge three run double to the gap in right center to give the Blue Jays the lead 3-2.
The lead would not last long as the Griffins would strike for three runs in the top of the 4th inning to retake the lead 5-3. They would add two more runs on a two run home run in the top of the 5th inning that made the score 7-3 in favor of Fontbonne.
The Blue Jays would begin to chip away in the bottom of the 7th inning when Parker Scheiders would drive a ball out of the park for a solo home run to cut the lead to 7-4. Diaz, McKinnon and Whitehead would all single to load the bases. After a strikeout Hunter Mulholland lined a single to left center. Two runs would score. Whitehead would advance to third. Mulholland was out trying to take second on the throw to third. The Griffin lead was now down to 7-6 at the end of the 7th inning.
The Griffins would turn to relief pitcher Jake Jump and he pitched two shutout innings to get the save.
The Blue Jay starter Dawson Koch lasted 3.2 innings and was touched for 5 runs, 4 earned, on 4 hits with four strikeouts. Jacob Waeltermann would come in and pitch 5.1 innings of strong relief. He gave up 2 runs on 4 hits walking none and striking out 4 batters.
Diaz, McKinnon and Whitehead would all lead the Blue Jay offense with two hits each. The Jays recorded nine hits in the game.
The Blue Jays will be back in action tomorrow at home as they will conclude the four-game set with Fontbonne. The games are scheduled for 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. first pitches.
