LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Franklin College baseball team opened the second weekend of Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Tournament play on Thursday (May 20) afternoon, taking on third-seeded Earlham College in the second game of the opening day.

The Grizzlies (25-13) ran into trouble in the third inning and never recovered, as Earlham (24-18) snapped Franklin's eight-game conference tournament winning streak with a 15-0 victory, sending Franklin into the first elimination game of the tournament.

After two scoreless frames, the Quakers put together an 11-run third inning that tipped the balance of the game into Earlham's favor for good. Quenton Wellington went 4-for-4 at the plate to pace the FC offense with Tysen Lipscomb and Jacob Heuchan also reaching via base hit for the Grizzlies.

Krae Sparks (2-1) got the start and lasted 2 1/3 innings, striking out one. Chris Foote tossed a career-high five innings in relief for Franklin, allowing seven hits and striking out a pair of Quakers.

The Grizzlies will put their tournament lives on the line on Friday (May 21) morning, when they face fourth-seeded Anderson in the first elimination game of the tournament. The winner will move on to play in the final game of the day, another elimination contest against either Bluffton or Transylvania.

First pitch from Kentucky Proud Ballpark is set for 10:30 a.m.