FRANKLIN, Ind. – The Franklin College softball team closed out their first homestand of the year on Sunday (Mar. 6), taking on the Kalamazoo Hornets for a pair of games at Behrens Field.

A wild opener saw the Grizzlies (2-4) score three times in their final trip to the plate to claim an 11-8 win. Game two saw the two offenses take a back seat to the pitching, with the Hornets (1-1) squeaking by with a 4-1 win.

Game One: Franklin 11 – Kalamazoo 8
Down three when they came to bat for the first time, Franklin got back-to-back triples from Sydney Rodeghier and Annie Kluemper to open the game with each scoring in the inning to cut the deficit to a run. The Grizzlies put another crooked number on the board in the second with Rodeghier, Kluemper and Sydney Bostic combining to drive in four runs and make it 6-3 Franklin.

RBI singles from Bostic and Makiah Thomas made it 8-5 Grizzlies after four innings, but the Hornets answered with a three-spot in the top of the sixth to even things up. Back-to-back doubles from Kluemper and Bostic put Franklin back in front and Thomas and Genesis Munoz added insurance runs with RBI singles.

Sydney Pitts got the start and went 5.1 innings with three strikeouts. Delaney Gourley (1-2) entered in relief and allowed four hits over the final 1.2 innings to earn the decision. The Grizzlies' 1-4 hitters of Rodeghier, Kluemper, Bostic and Thomas combined for 12 hits and 10 RBI.

Game Two: Kalamazoo 4 – Franklin 1
Bostic continued her torrid pace at the plate with an RBI double in the bottom of the third inning. But Franklin's offense would stall out the rest of the game despite a runner reaching base in each of the final four innings.

Making her first career start in the circle, Stephanni Kleber (0-2) went the distance giving up three earned runs and striking out three. Both Bostic and Kluemper went 2-for-4 at the plate to lead the FC offense.

Up Next
The Grizzlies hit the road on Tuesday (Mar. 8) for a pair of contests with the Wilmington Quakers. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m