ANDERSON, Ind. – The Franklin softball team hit the road for two games on Wednesday afternoon against conference rival Anderson University.

The Grizzlies (7-5) used some late-game magic to pull away in game one and earn a 5-3 win. Game two saw the Ravens (1-7) jump out to an early lead and hold off a seventh inning rally from Franklin to hold on for a 9-6 victory.

Game One: Franklin 5 – Anderson 3
Franklin got on the board in their half of the first inning when some heads-up base running by freshman Annie Kluemper produced the first run. Kluemper scampered home from second base on an attempted double-play that Emily Streib was able to leg out.

Anderson knotted things up in the fourth and the game remained tied until a four-run outburst in the top of the sixth. With two on one out, Addison Csikos roped a single into left that score Abby Hickson and Shelby Crockett to make it 3-1. One batter later, Makiah Thomas was called on to pinch hit and rewarded the FC coaching staff with a two-run blast that doubled the lead.

The Ravens cut the lead in half with a pair of runs in the sixth but did not produce another threat the rest of the game.

Alisha Burch (4-2) went the distance in the circle, allowing three earned runs on nine hits with four strikeouts. Hickson went 4-for-4 with a run scored to pace the offense.

Game Two: Anderson 9 – Franklin 6
The Grizzlies broke through in the top of the first again with an RBI single from Natalie Weber, who would score later in the inning on a wild pitch. But the lead was short-lived as Anderson brought six runs across in the bottom of the second to surge ahead.

Franklin cut into the lead with an RBI single from Sydney Rodeghier in the fourth and a run-scoring infield single from Crockett in the fifth. Anderson responded with a three-run sixth but RBIs from Hickson and Sydney Bostic cut the lead to three in the top of the seventh. Franklin had the tying run at the plate with one out but saw their rally end with back-to-back outs to close the game.

Delanie Gourley (3-2) got the start and was lifted in the second in favor of Streib, who tossed 4.1 innings in relief. Streib and Crockett both went 3-for-4 and Weber crossed home plate three times.

Franklin is back in action on Sunday (Apr. 4) afternoon with two home games against the Transylvania Pioneers on tap. First pitch at Behrens Field is set for 1:00 p.m.