LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Franklin softball team opened up the 2023 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Softball Tournament on Thursday (May 11) afternoon.
The third-seeded Grizzlies (29-13) claimed a 7-2 win over sixth-seeded Defiance in their first game of the day to set up a showdown with second-seeded Mount St. Joseph later in the day. The Grizzlies dropped a pitcher's duel with the Lions in the night cap by a 2-1 score to drop into the elimination bracket on Friday (May 12).
Game One: #3 Franklin 7 - #6 Defiance 2
The Grizzlies opened the scoring in their first trip to the plate with
Genesis Munoz bringing home a run on a sac fly but the Yellow Jackets jumped in front with a run in each of the second and third innings. Franklin grabbed the lead for good with a six-run fourth inning and rode that lead to the end.
Kaylee Stewart tied the game when she got hit by a pitch with the bags full and
Sydney Rodeghier put the Griz in front with a two-run single.
Sydney Bostic added to the lead with an RBI single later in the inning and Munoz capped the big inning with a two-run double.
Bostic went 3-for-4 to pace the offense and Munoz drove in three runs.
Sydney Pitts (11-8) was brilliant in the circle, scattering eight hits in a complete game effort.
Game Two: #2 MSJ 2 - #3 Franklin 1
Two of the league's best offenses combined for just five hits as Franklin's
Stephanni Kleber and the Lions' Casey Kemp kept hitters off balance all afternoon.
Franklin broke through on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth thanks to a two-out solo home run from
Eriana Wagner but the Lions answered with a pinch-hit two-run double in the bottom of the inning. Franklin had the tying run on third with one out in the top of the sixth, but pinch runner
Alyssa Pasch was cut down trying to score on a ground ball to third and Rodeghier was left in scoring position as Annie Kleumper popped out to end the threat.
Wagner's home run gives her 10 for the year and she becomes the first Grizzly to reach double digit dingers in a season since Savannah Blevins and Alexis Tarver each did so back in 2017. Kleber (15-5) was brilliant in the circle, giving up just two hits in a complete game showing.
Up Next
Franklin will play fourth-seeded Manchester in the elimination round on Friday (May 11). First pitch is set for 12:30 p.m.
