Franklin, Ind. - The Franklin College baseball team scored two runs in the first and second innings, but it was not enough in losing 9-4 to Earlham College to open the three-game Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) series on Friday from John P. McDowell Field.

Freshman Jordan Clark (Connersville, Ind./Connersville) hit a solo home run to start the scoring in the first inning. A few batters later, senior Braden Pelley (Columbus, Ind./Columbus North) singled home senior Joe Ardizzone (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli) to give the Grizzlies a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

Franklin took a 4-0 lead one inning later on a two-run home run by freshman Mitchell Moore (Seymour, Ind./Seymour).

Earlham (14-4, 4-2 HCAC) scored one run in the third inning before pushing across two runs each in the fifth and sixth innings to take a 5-4 lead. The visitors increased the margin to four runs, 8-4, behind a three-run seventh inning. A solo home run in the ninth inning capped the game's scoring.

Moore and Clark each tallied three hits in the contest. Sophomore Frank Podkul (Schererville, Ind./Andrean) had two hits to round out the team's 10-hit attack.

The two teams conclude the three-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 2, at noon from John P. McDowell Field. Live statistics of both games will be available. In-game updates will also be available on Twitter (@FCAthletics). Like the Grizzlies on Facebook (www.facebook.com/FranklinCollegeAthletics), and on Instagram (@fcgrizzlies).