FRANKLIN, Ind. – The Franklin College softball team continued an eight-game homestand on Tuesday (Mar. 9) afternoon with a pair of non-conference matchups with Aurora University.

The Grizzlies (3-3) struggled to string together hits in both games, managing 11 hits total and leaving 11 runners on base as Aurora (4-0) took both contests by scores of 3-2 and 10-2.

Game One: Aurora 3 – Franklin 2
Aurora plated one run in both the first and fourth innings while Franklin only mustered a pair of singles through the first three innings. Franklin's fortunes changes in the bottom of the fourth inning, starting with back-to-back singles from Natalie Weber and Emily Streib to open the inning. Both advanced a base on a sac bunt and Sydney Bostic brought both home with an RBI single to even the game.

Both offenses went quietly in the fifth before the Spartans plated the go-ahead run in the top of the sixth. Franklin put two runners on with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but back-to-back strikeouts ended both the rally and the game.

Bostic went 2-for-3 in game one, the only hitter to record multiple hits. In the circle, Alisha Burch (2-1) allowed two earned runs with five strikeouts to take her first defeat of the season.

Game Two: Aurora 10 – Franklin 2 (6 inn.)
Aurora jumped on the board with a two-run first inning but Franklin would answer just a few frames later. With two on and two out in the bottom of the third, Streib roped a double into deep center field, scoring Shelby Crockett and Annie Kluemper to tie the game.

Momentum quickly shifted back into the Spartans' favor as Aurora plated five runs in the fourth and added two more in the sixth. Franklin had a golden opportunity to cut into the lead in the fifth, but another two-out rally wasn't in the works as the Grizzlies left the bags loaded.

Streib (0-1) got the start in game two and went three-plus innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits with two walks and a strikeout. Delanie Gourley and Christina Black also saw time in the circle in game two.

The Grizzlies will have a few days to get ready for their conference opener on Saturday (Mar. 13) when they host the Bluffton Beavers at Behrens Field for a pair of games. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.