DECATUR, Ill. – A massive seventh inning proved to be the deciding factor as the Franklin baseball team notched its third straight win, besting Millikin University in a Tuesday (Mar. 28) afternoon matchup.

The Grizzlies (12-6) scored eight times in the seventh inning and kept the Big Blue (13-6) offense in check on their way to a 10-4 victory. 

Franklin got the game's first run in their half of the fourth when Matt Earley scored on a double play. The lead was short lived as the hosts plated three runs in their half of the fifth before Franklin got a run back on an RBI single from Jonathan LaGuire in the sixth to make it a 3-2 game. 

The Grizzlies pulled in front five batters into the seventh when Noah Wood ripped an two-run double into the left center field gap to make it 4-3. Luke Willmann and LaGuire added to the lead later in the inning just ahead of the back-breaking blow that came in the form of a three-run double off Dyllan Redmon's bat. Sean Sullivan capped the inning with an RBI single that put Franklin up 10-3, which was more than enough cushion to come away with a big non-conference win. 

AJ Sanders paced Franklin's offense with a 3-for-5 day at the plate while Wood and LaGuire had two hits each. Damian Tillie got the start on the mound and fanned three over 4.1 innings before giving way to the bullpen. Noah Bennington (1-0) earned his first career win in relief, tossing three innings of two-hit ball with three strikeouts. 

Franklin returns to conference play on Saturday (Apr. 1) afternoon, hosting Hanover for two games as part of a weekend series. First pitch from McDowell Field is set for noon.