Franklin, Ind. - Franklin College senior Chase Steinbrunner (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli) singled home freshman Nick Brems (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) in the ninth inning to complete a doubleheader sweep of Transylvania University in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) play on Saturday from John P. McDowell Field.

The Grizzlies (7-9, 2-1 HCAC) won two of the three games to begin league play. Franklin won the first contest 10-0 behind a three-hit shutout and 10 strikeouts from sophomore Christian Sullivan (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central). Franklin capped the Saturday sweep with a hard-fought 6-5 triumph in the second game.

The hosts scored a season-high 10 runs in winning the opener. Senior Drew Kammerer (Fortville, Ind./Mt. Vernon) got the hosts on the scoreboard with a two-run double in the fourth inning.

Sophomore Frank Podkul (Schererville, Ind./Andrean) hit a groundout to score freshman Mitchell Moore (Seymour, Ind./Seymour) to give Franklin a 3-0 lead in the fifth inning.

The Grizzlies broke the game open one inning later behind a three-run sixth inning. Moore connected on a run-scoring double to score Kammerer. Then, freshman Jordan Clark (Connersville, Ind./Connersville) hit a single to score freshman Tanner Nicholson (Greencastle, Ind./Greencastle). The base hit gave the hosts a 5-0 lead. Podkul followed with a single to score Moore to cap the scoring in the inning.

Franklin capped its scoring in the opener with a four-run seventh inning. Clark hit a two-run double for the big hit of the frame.

That was all the offense Sullivan would need on the mound as the starter improved to 3-0 on the season.

Clark led Franklin's 14-hit offensive attack by going 3-for-4 with three runs batted in. Moore added two hits and two runs scored. Kammerer also collected two hits and scored two runs. Sophomores Jackson Freed (Westfield, Ind./Westfield) and Mitch Schuman (St. Leon, Ind./East Central) also recorded two hits in the victory.

In the second game, Franklin took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning on base hits by senior Joe Ardizzone (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli) and Podkul. Transylvania tied the contest on a two-run single by Gage Beavers in the second inning.

Franklin regained the lead, 4-2, in the third inning on another run-scoring single from Ardizzone. A fielding error allowed the second run of the inning to score. The lead grew to three runs, 5-2, in the sixth inning after a successfully executed bunt from Nicholson scored Schuman.

The Pioneers mounted a rally with two runs in the seventh inning and tying the game in the ninth inning. Trey Simpson stole third base and scored on a throwing error to square the contest at 5-5.

In the ninth inning, Podkul connected on a two-out single. Brems successful stole second base and later scored on Steinbrunner's base hit.

Ardizzone and Podkul each tallied three hits and two runs batted in during the second game. Moore collected two hits and scored two runs. Kammerer also recorded two hits in the victory.

Clark picked up the victory on the mound, tallying three strikeouts in two innings in relief. Junior right-handed starting pitcher Jacob McMain (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) had six strikeouts in seven innings.

Franklin returns to action on Tuesday, March 29, at 4 p.m. when it travels to Hanover College in Hanover, Indiana. Live statistics of the game will be available. In-game updates will be available on Twitter (@FCAthletics). Like the Grizzlies on Facebook (www.facebook.com/FranklinCollegeAthletics), and on Instagram (@fcgrizzlies).