FRANKLIN, Ind. – For the first time in almost one calendar year, the Franklin College softball team stepped onto the Behrens Field turf, hosting Alma College in the team's 2021 home opener on Saturday (Mar. 6) afternoon.

The Grizzlies (3-1) clamped down on the Scots (1-1) in the opener and took advantage of five Alma errors to earn a 10-3 win. Game two saw the Grizzlies record 10 hits total, but they couldn't get the clutch hit when they needed it in a 7-3 loss.

Sophomore Sydney Bostic had four hits and drove in five runs on the day to lead the Grizzly offense. Emily Streib had four hits and Samantha Cain scored four times on the afternoon.

Game One: Franklin 10 – Alma 3
Franklin got on the board with RBI doubles from Streib and Bostic in each of the first two innings before breaking things wide open in the bottom of the third. Franklin plated six runs in the frame with Bostic and Annie Kluemper knocking in two runs each and Sydney Rodeghier bringing home a run with a bases loaded walk to make it 8-1.

The Grizzlies plated two unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth, capping their scoring for the opener. Alisha Burch (2-0) continued her strong start to the year, allowing no earned runs and striking out four in a complete game effort.

Game Two: Alma 7 – Franklin 3
Down by a pair in the bottom of the second, Bostic cut the Scots' lead in half with an RBI single, bringing home Cain. Alma added a pair of runs in their half of the third but Franklin got them right back in the bottom of the inning with an Abby Hickson RBI single followed by a Bostic sac fly that made it 4-3.

That was as close as Franklin would get as they squandered scoring chances in both the fourth and sixth innings. Alma padded their lead with a run in the fifth and two more in the seventh.

Eight different Grizzlies recorded hits in the night cap. Freshman Delanie Gourley (1-1) got the start in the circle and allowed three earned runs on 10 hits over 5 1/3 innings. Fellow freshman Christina Black made her career pitching debut, tossing the final 1 2/3 innings.

Franklin is back on the diamond on Tuesday (Mar. 9) afternoon, hosting Aurora University for a pair of games at Behrens Field. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m.