Franklin, Ind. - The Franklin College softball team lost a pair of hard-fought contests to defending Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) regular-season and tournament champion Anderson University on Saturday from Behrens Field.

Franklin (13-7, 2-2 HCAC) lost the opener 7-4 and the second game 8-3 in eight innings.

In the opener, Anderson scored six times in the first inning to grab early momentum. The Ravens added another run in the top of the fourth inning to hold a 7-0 advantage.

Franklin battled back with a four-run fourth inning to trim the deficit to 7-4. A single by sophomore Jeana Gregory (Mooresville, Ind./Mooresville) scored junior Katie Struewing (Greenwood, Ind./Greenwood) for the first run of the inning. Sophomore Jasmine Hanna (Frankfort, Ind./Clinton Prairie) added a single to plate another run. Sophomore Taylor Johnson (Beech Grove, Ind./Beech Grove) drove home two runs with a single to cap the scoring.

Franklin's eight hits were spread evenly throughout the lineup.

In the second game, the Grizzlies battled back from a 3-0 deficit to score two runs in the sixth inning and tie the game in the bottom of the seventh inning.

The hosts got on the scoreboard after a fielding error in the outfield allowed junior McKensie Vanosdol (North Vernon, Ind./Jennings County) to score from third base. A ground out by senior Jessica Ayers (Frankfort, Ind./Frankfort) brought the Grizzlies within one run, 3-2, in the sixth inning.

One inning later, a ground out by Vanosdol allowed sophomore Megan Lalioff (Fishers, Ind./Fishers) to score the tying run. The Grizzlies had the potential winning run at third base, but a ground out ended the threat.

Under international tiebreak rules in the eighth inning, Anderson (10-4, 2-0 HCAC) scored five times to break the game open. The visitors got a two-run triple to increase its lead to 6-3. Anderson retired the Grizzlies in order in the bottom of the eighth inning to pick up the victory.

Lalioff led Franklin's offensive performance in the second game, going 1-for-2 with one run scored. Vanosdol scored a run and drove in one run in the game.

Franklin is scheduled to return to action on Tuesday, April 7 at 3:30 p.m. when it hosts Hanover College from Behrens Field. Live statistics and video of both games will be available.