BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Franklin baseball team opened up NCAA regional play on Friday (May 19) afternoon, as the third-seeded Grizzlies took on second-seeded La Verne with a spot in the winner's bracket up for grabs.
 
The Grizzlies (33-12) will have their backs against the wall on day two, as the Leopards (29-15) scored five runs over their final two trips to the plate to steal an 8-7 win from the Griz.
 
Franklin got on the board in the top of the second thanks to a lead-off triple from Noah Wood and a sac fly from Matt Earley that gave FC a 1-0 lead. One inning later, the Grizzlies tacked on four runs with Sean Sullivan, Tysen Lipscomb, Wood and Earley all knocking in runs to stretch the lead to 5-0.
 
The Leopards plated three runs in the third but momentum swung back in the Grizzlies' favor thanks to a lead-off home run from Luke Willmann. Sean Sullivan added to Franklin's lead with a lead off homer in the seventh and the Griz held a 7-3 lead with nine outs to go.
 
But things unraveled over the next two frames, as the Leopards plated two runs in the seventh and three in the eighth to take the lead. Franklin had runners on the corners with one out in the ninth but couldn't get the big hit before the final out.
 
Sullivan, Lipscomb, Wood and AJ Sanders all had two hits to pace the Franklin offense. Jackson Young (8-1) got the start and struck out six over seven innings of work. Maddox Manes recorded the final three outs out of the bullpen.
 
Franklin will put their season on the line on day two of the regional on Saturday (May 20), when they face top-seeded Birmingham Southern in the weekend's first elimination game. First pitch is set for noon eastern time.