Cincinnati, Ohio - The Franklin College softball team won a pair of road Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) games to begin the league season over Mount St. Joseph University on Saturday. The Grizzlies picked up a 2-1 win in the opener before scoring seven runs in the seventh inning for a 7-4 triumph in the second contest.

Franklin (9-5, 2-0 HCAC) tied the opener with a solo home run from sophomore Savannah Blevins (Wilkinson, Ind./Eastern Hancock) in the sixth inning. One inning later, a successful squeeze bunt by sophomore Taylor Johnson (Beech Grove, Ind./Beech Grove) plated sophomore Jeana Gregory (Mooresville, Ind./Mooresville). Gregory began the seventh inning with a single, but moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. A passed ball allowed Gregory to advance to third base. Then, Johnson gave the Grizzlies the 2-1 lead on the squeeze bunt.

Freshman pitcher Olivia Paszek (Franklin, Ind./Franklin Community) allowed one run to pick up the complete-game victory.

In the second game, MSJ took a 3-0 lead after four innings. The Lions held a 4-0 advantage heading into the seventh inning before the visitors mounted a rally.

Senior Jessica Ayers (Frankfort, Ind./Frankfort) had a key double to help the Grizzlies during the seventh-inning comeback. Sophomore Baylea Suiters (Indianapolis, Ind./Lutheran) lined a double to tie the game at 4-4. Juniors McKensie Vanosdol (North Vernon, Ind./Jennings County) and Katie Struewing (Greenwood, Ind./Greenwood) added run-scoring singles.

Vanosdol picked up the victory in the circle to help secure the road HCAC sweep.

Franklin returns to action on Sunday, March 22 at 1 p.m. when it travels to Wilmington College.