BLUFFTON, Ohio – The Franklin College softball team hit the road for two Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) contests on Saturday (Apr. 17) against the Bluffton Beavers.

The Grizzlies (11-7, 2-2 HCAC) struggled to get going offensively in the opener, managing just two hits in a 5-0 Bluffton (6-18, 4-4 HCAC) win. Game two was a much different story, with the Franklin bats racking up 18 hits in a 10-3 victory that gave the Griz a split.

Game One: Bluffton 5 – Franklin 0
Franklin's best chance to break through came in the top of the sixth inning with a runner on second and two outs with the middle of the order due up. Natalie Weber roped a single into left field, but Sydney Rodeghier's attempt to score from second was thwarted by a perfect throw home.

Alisha Burch (6-3) got the start in the opener and allowed six hits with five strikeouts in a complete game effort. Weber and Addison Csikos both had hits for the Grizzlies.

Game Two: Franklin 10 – Bluffton 3
The Beavers took the early lead with a first inning run and after threatening in each of their first two at-bats, the Grizzlies finally broke through with a four-run third inning. Abby Hickson tied things up with a one-out RBI single and was followed by consecutive run-scoring singles from Sydney Bostic and Makiah Thomas. Makayla Plymale capped the scoring with an RBI single of her own and the Grizzlies held a 4-1 lead after 2.5 innings.

Bostic and Thomas each plated a run in the top of the fourth to extend the Grizzlies lead and Plymale would make it a 7-1 game her first career home run that led off the fifth. After Bluffton cut into the lead with two in the sixth, Hickson, Csikos and Plymale all knocked in insurance runs in the top of the seventh that capped the scoring.

Delanie Gourley (5-3) was the beneficiary of the offensive firepower, turning in a gem of a start in the circle. The Whiteland, Ind.-native scattered six hits and allowed one earned run in a complete game showing. Plymale and Shelby Crockett both went 5-for-5 at the plate, with Plymale knocking in three and Crockett scoring three times.  

Up Next
Franklin is back at home on Sunday (Apr. 18) afternoon for two HCAC contests with Rose-Hulman. First pitch from Behrens Field is set for 1 p.m.