Box Score Pelley Video
Franklin, Ind. - Senior Braden Pelley (Columbus, Ind./Columbus North) hit a leadoff walk-off home run in the ninth inning to propel the Franklin College baseball team to a 4-3 win over Albion College on Friday in the 2016 home opener at John P. McDowell Field.
The Grizzlies (2-3) rallied from a 3-0 deficit by pushing one run across in the seventh inning and a two-run eighth inning.
Franklin got on the scoreboard on a ground out by senior Chase Steinbrunner (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli) in the seventh inning. The play scored senior Joe Ardizzone (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli).
One inning later, Ardizzone connected on a two-out, two-run single to square the contest. The base hit scored senior Drew Kammerer (Fortville, Ind./Mt. Vernon) and freshman Tanner Nicholson (Greencastle, Ind./Greencastle).
Albion loaded the bases in the top of the ninth inning, but sophomore Logan Macaluso (Kokomo, Ind./Northwestern) got a groundout to end the threat.
The Grizzlies carried the momentum to the bottom half of the inning as Pelley hit his first career walk-off base hit when he connected on a home run.
Ardizzone led the team's offensive attack, going 3-for-4 with two runs batted in. Pelley added two hits in the victory. Sophomore Jackson Freed (Westfield, Ind./Westfield), freshman Jordan Clark (Connersville, Ind./Connersville), and Nicholson each recorded one hit.
Senior left-handed pitcher Hayden Cleveland (Brownsburg, Ind./Cardinal Ritter) scattered seven hits and had six strikeouts in eight innings. Macaluso improved to 1-1 on the season by tossing a scoreless ninth inning to pick up the victory in relief.
Franklin returns to action on Saturday, March 5, at noon for a doubleheader to conclude the three-game series from John P. McDowell Field. Franklin's Zeta Tau Alpha will be sponsoring a Strikeout Cancer game with a raffle drawing to benefit breast cancer research.
Live statistics of both games will be available at www.franklingrizzlies.com. In-game updates will also be available on Twitter (@FCAthletics). Like the Grizzlies on Facebook (www.facebook.com/FranklinCollegeAthletics), and on Instagram (@fcgrizzlies).
