Baseball Picked To Finish Second In West Division

ST. LOUIS, Mo.—The St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) released the 2020 Preseason Poll and the Griffins are picked to finish second in the West Division.

Webster, the No. 2-ranked team in the country, are picked to finish first in the West Division. After Fontbonne, the Westminster Blue Jays follow with 29 points and a first-place vote. Eureka comes in fourth with 18 points and Iowa Wesleyan finishes out the field with 13.

The Griffins are coming off a 25-13 overall record in 2019 and went 12-10 in conference play. This year, after accumulating a program-best 333 strikeouts and a 3.41 ERA, the Griffins are well set on the rubber heading into 2020.

The team brings back two-time SLIAC Pitcher of the Year, Luke Summers, as the hurler went an astounding 11-2 in 2019, totaling 127 strikeouts, and a 0.67 ERA in 94.0 innings pitched.

Alex Phillips also returns to the rubber after posting a 5-4 record in his first season with Fontbonne. The righthander compiled 60 strikeouts and a 4.60 ERA. Out of the pen, Mike Jacobson is back for his senior season as well after totaling a team-high three saves a season ago and owning a 2.82 ERA in 38.1 innings of work. He also ranked third on the team with 46 strikeouts.

There will be plenty of newcomers around the diamond, though with the team looking to replace Jonathan Hoevelmann, Jackson Penrod, Matt Tossick, Michael Puckett, Jr., and Tyler Grimes to name a few.

Back for his junior season, however, is Braeden Dobbs. The left-handed hitter looks to build off his .368 average, totaling 49 hits, 11 doubles, one homer and 29 RBI.

Gus Purschke also returns to man centerfield for Fontbonne. The St. Louis, Mo., native, ended with a .315 average, while setting new career-highs in hits (46), runs scored (32), home runs (three), and RBI (20). Matt Manint is back behind the plate after posting a .284 clip, three homers, and 21 RBI in his first season.

Lance Chapman is the leader in the home run department returning from last year where he blasted five, to go along with his 23 RBI, and .268 average.

The Griffins 2020 campaign gets underway on February 14^th at Belhaven.

To view the 2020 SLIAC Preseason Poll visit HERE.

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

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