ANDERSON, Ind. – The Franklin baseball team extended their winning streak to eight games on Saturday (Apr. 8) afternoon, dominating both contests in a sweep of the Anderson Ravens.
The Grizzlies (17-6, 7-1 HCAC) maintained their status as one of three teams in the conference with only one league loss, as they downed the Ravens (12-11, 2-6 HCAC) 11-3 in game one and 13-2 in a seven-inning second game.
Game One: Franklin 11 – Anderson 3
The Grizzlies got things going in the top of the first without getting the ball out of the infield. An error put two runners in scoring position and
Noah Wood's infield single brought in the game's first run. Anderson brought in two in their first trip to the plate but Franklin re-claimed the lead in the second with a two-run home run from Reed and an RBI single from
Matt Earley made it a 4-2 game.
Sean Sullivan and Earley both clubbed two-run shots in the top of the fourth to stretch Franklin's lead to 8-2.
Jonathan LaGuire-Cruz crushed a lead-off homer in the seventh to cap a four home run contest for the Griz and put the game well out of reach.
LaGuire-Cruz and
AJ Sanders each went 4-for-5 at the plate with Sanders leading all players with three runs scored. On the mound,
Matthew Johnson (4-1) gave up two earned runs on eight hits with four strikeouts over 6.2 innings.
Damian Tillie worked the final 2.1 innings, giving up one hit and striking out two.
Game Two: Franklin 13 – Anderson 2 (7 inn.)
For the second straight game, Franklin scored one in the first only for Anderson to answer with two runs in their first trip to the plate. But that was the only offense the Ravens managed in game two and the Grizzlies erased their deficit immediately.
Dyllan Redmon knocked in the tying run in the second with a single and Reed mashed a two-run double to put the Griz in front for good. Sullivan added to the lead with an RBI single to put the guests up 5-2 after 1.5 innings and the junior center fielder delivered the crushing blow in the fourth with a three-run blast that stretched the lead to six.
Reed doubled home a run in the sixth and Franklin got four in the seventh with LaGuire-Cruz driving in two with a single and Sanders plating a run with a single.
Sullivan went 3-for-5 with four driven in to lead the offense. Reed, Redmon and
Noah Wood all had two hits each in support.
Jackson Young (5-0) went all seven innings on the mound, scattering eight hits and striking out a career-high 11 batters without conceding a walk.
Milestone Watch
With the two wins on Saturday, Franklin head coach
Lance Marshall moves to within two wins of 600 for his career. He'll have the chance to reach that milestone in the Grizzlies' next matchup, as Franklin hosts DePauw for two games on Wednesday (Apr. 12) afternoon at 2:00 p.m.
