Franklin, Ind. - The Franklin College softball team hit four home runs in sweeping a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) doubleheader 11-4 and 9-1 over Manchester University on Saturday from Behrens Field.

The Grizzlies (15-9, 4-4 HCAC) rallied from a 3-2 deficit in the opener. Senior Jessica Ayers (Frankfort, Ind./Frankfort) hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning to give the hosts the lead. A two-run home run from sophomore Savannah Blevins (Wilkinson, Ind./Eastern Hancock) gave Franklin a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

Manchester (9-10, 4-4 HCAC) tied the game behind a two-run third inning. The Spartans took the lead an inning later on a successful double steal attempt.

Ayers' first home run of the season gave the Grizzlies the lead for good.

The team added to its lead in the fifth inning on a double by junior McKensie Vanosdol (North Vernon, Ind./Jennings County). The base hit scored freshman Morgan Burch (Coatesville, Ind./Cascade). Then, junior Katie Struewing (Greenwood, Ind./Greenwood) connected on her first home run of the season to drive in two runs to give Franklin a 7-4 lead. The Grizzlies plated four runs in the sixth inning to secure the victory.

Vanosdol struck out five batters in picking up the victory in the circle with the complete-game effort. She led the team's 11-hit attack going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two runs batted in offensively. Blevins added two hits and drove in two runs. Ayers went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored in the opener.

Franklin scored six times in the second inning and added three runs in the third inning to complete the doubleheader sweep.

Trailing 1-0, sophomore Megan Lalioff (Fishers, Ind./Fishers) drove in Ayers with a single in the bottom of the second inning. A groundout from sophomore Taylor Johnson (Beech Grove, Ind./Beech Grove) gave Franklin a 2-1 advantage.

Vanosdol legged out a double to drive in sophomore Baylea Suiters (Indianapolis, Ind./Lutheran) for the third run of the frame. Struewing followed with a single to extend the lead to 4-1. Blevins connected on her second home run of the day with a two-run blast to give the hosts a 6-1 lead.

Later, Suiters plated two runs with a double in the third inning. She would later score on a double from Vanosdol to give Franklin a 9-1 advantage.

That was all of the offense freshman Olivia Paszek (Franklin, Ind./Franklin Community) would need in the circle. The left hander recorded nine strikeouts and scattered four hits in the complete-game victory.

Vanosdol went 3-for-3 with two runs batted in to lead the team' offensive attack. Suiters added two hits and scored two runs. Struewing and Blevins each added two hits in the victory. Ayers scored two runs in the contest.

Franklin returns to action when it hosts Oberlin College (Ohio) on Sunday, April 12 at 1 p.m. on Senior Day. Prior to the first contest the program will honor senior Jessica Ayers for her playing accomplishments over the past four seasons. Live video and statistics of both games will be available.