FRANKLIN – The Franklin softball team made their 2023 home debut on Saturday (Mar. 4) afternoon, hosting the Wilmington Quakers for two contests at Behrens Field.
The Grizzlies moved to a perfect 6-0 on the season, taking the opening contest 5-1 and rallying late to earn a 4-3 comeback win in game two.
Game One: Franklin 5 – Wilmington 1
The Grizzlies used an extra out to their advantage to take an early lead in the opener.
Annie Kluemper reached on a one-out error and
Sydney Bostic followed with a single. With two out,
Molly Wallace stepped to the dish and ripped a double to the wall that scored both runners and made it a 2-0 game.
Two innings later, Franklin padded their lead starting with an RBI double from
Genesis Munoz and a two-run home off the bat of
Eriana Wagner that made it a 5-0 game. It was the first career home run for the Indy-native and starting right fielder.
Franklin worked around a fourth inning run for the Quakers and kept their guests off the board the rest of the way. Wagner and Bostic finished with two hits each to pace the Franklin offense.
Sydney Pitts (2-0) was brilliant in the circle for Franklin, scattering seven hits and striking out three in a complete game effort.
Game Two: Franklin 4 – Wilmington 3
Both offenses were held in check until the top of the fourth, when the Quakers used four hits to plate three runs and take their first lead of the afternoon.
Down to their final nine outs, Franklin cut into the lead in the fifth starting with a one-out single from Kluemper and a two-out double from Bostic that put two un scoring position. With Munoz up to bat, Wilmington uncorked two straight wild pitches that allowed both runners to score and make it a one-run game.
The Grizzlies drew even in the sixth when another wild pitch allowed Wagner to come in to score and later in the inning, Franklin grabbed the lead with for good an RBI ground out from Sydney Rodeigher that scored pinch runner
Belle Neiling. The first two Wilmington batters reached in the seventh, but
Stephanni Kleber worked her way out of the jam to seal the win.
Rodeghier and Wagner both finished with a pair of hits to lead Franklin's offense. In the circle, Kleber (3-0) allowed five hits with one walk and five strikeouts to record her third straight complete game.
Up Next
Franklin is back in action for two more game on Sunday (Mar. 5) at Behrens Field. The Grizzlies welcome Kalamazoo College to town with first pitch set for 1:00 p.m.
