Eureka Splits Doubleheader with Fontbonne

CLAYTON, Mo. – The Eureka baseball team split a SLIAC doubleheader with Fontbonne on Tuesday, earning its first conference win of the season.

GAME 1 – Eureka 10, Fontbonne 6

The Red Devils secured their first SLIAC victory of the season with a 10-6 win over the Griffins in Game 1.

Eureka struck first in the opening inning. Conor Fitzpatrick (North Barrington, Ill./Barrington) singled to center field, stole second, and advanced to third before scoring on a throw to second on a stolen base by Brandt King (Rockford, Ill./Stillman Valley), giving the Red Devils a 1-0 lead.

Eureka extended the lead to 2-0 in the fourth when Fitzpatrick reached on a single and later scored on a groundout by Joshua Frenden (New Port Richey, Fla./River Ridge). The Red Devils continued to build momentum in the fifth, as David Hidden (East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria) walked and stole second before King delivered a two-RBI double to make it a 4-0 game.

A four-run ninth inning gave Eureka a commanding 10-1 advantage. Fitzpatrick came through again with a two-RBI single, and Frenden added an RBI single to cap off the offensive surge. Fontbonne attempted a comeback with a five-run rally, including a grand slam by Smith, but the Red Devils held on for the win.

GAME NOTES

• Conor Fitzpatrick led the offense, going 4-for-5 with four runs scored, four RBIs, and two stolen bases.
• Brandt King contributed two RBIs and a double while reaching base twice via walks.
• David Hidden added two hits and three runs scored.
• Colton Yanish (LaSalle-Peru, Ill./LaSalle-Peru Township) delivered a strong start, pitching five innings with six strikeouts and no earned runs, posting a 1.00 WHIP.

GAME 2 – Fontbonne 6, Eureka 2

The Red Devils battled in Game 2 but fell to Fontbonne, 6-2.

Eureka threatened early, putting two runners on in the first inning after singles by Hayden McKenna (Sheridan, Ill./Marquette Academy) and Frenden, but the Red Devils were unable to push a run across.

The Red Devils recorded two more hits in the third when Mike Dunne (Bartonville, Ill./Limestone) and Fitzpatrick singled, but Fontbonne's defense kept them off the board.

Eureka finally broke through in the sixth inning. After McKenna reached on an error and Frenden singled, Nickolas Cartmill (Fort Worth, Texas/Burleson) and Ben Perrine (Payson, Ill./Payson Seymour) delivered RBIs to trim the deficit. However, the Red Devils were unable to generate additional offense, leaving seven runners on base in the game.

GAME NOTES

• Mike Dunne went 2-for-4 as the designated hitter.
• Joshua Frenden recorded two hits.
• Ace Padilla (Castle Rock, Colo./Grayslake North) tallied five assists at shortstop.
• Emilio Villanueva (Houston, Texas/Milby) pitched three hitless innings in relief, striking out four.

UP NEXT

Eureka returns home to host Wabash tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. The Red Devils will look to avenge an earlier 8-1 loss to Wabash this season.