DECATUR, Ill. – The Franklin College softball team opened the 2022 campaign on Sunday (Feb. 27) afternoon with matchups against Carroll (Wis.) and Millikin at the latter's Workman Softball Field.

The Grizzlies (0-2) dropped a 4-3 heartbreaker in extras against Carroll before Millikin dealt Franklin an 11-0 defeat in the final contest of the weekend.

Game One: Carroll 4 – Franklin 3 (8 inn.)
Franklin got the early jump when Shelby Crockett ripped a two-out double that scored Sydney Bostic to give the Grizzlies a 1-0 lead through half an inning. Carroll knotted things up in the bottom of the second before back-to-back hits from Mollly Wallace and Sydney Rodeghier brought home two runs and spotted the Grizzlies a 3-1 lead after four innings.

The Pioneers answered with a two-run fifth inning and Franklin let scoring opportunities slip away in the final three innings before Carroll walked it off in the eighth.

Bostic, Wallace and Addison Csikos had two hits each to pace the FC offense. Sophomore Sydney Pitts made her career debut in the circle, going the first 4.2 innings before turning things over to freshman Stephanni Kleber (0-1). Kleber did not allow an earned run over three innings of work.

Game Two: Millikin 11 – Franklin 0 (5 inn.)
Millikin got a jump on the Grizzlies early, scoring three times in the first and six more in the second to open up a lead they would hold for good.

Sophomore Delanie Gourley (0-1) got the start and tossed the first 1.1 innings before turning things over to freshman Savannah Shadday, with Shadday logging the final 2.2 innings.

Freshman catcher Genesis Munoz got the start behind the plate and recorded her first career hit in two plate appearances.

Up Next
Franklin opens their home schedule next Saturday (Feb.  5), when they welcome Greenville University to Behrens Field for a pair of games. First pitch is set for 1 PM.