FRANKLIN, Ind. – The Franklin softball team played their final two home games of the regular season on Saturday (May 6) afternoon, hosting the Manchester Spartans on Senior Day at Behrens Field.
The Grizzlies (26-12, 9-5 HCAC) split a pair of one-run contests with the Spartans (22-18, 10-6 HCAC), dropping the first game 3-2 before taking the second contest 5-4.
Between games, the Grizzlies softball program said "thank you" to seniors
Sydney Rodeghier,
Sydney Pitts and
Sydney Bostic, who were all playing the final home games of their respective careers.
Game One: Manchester 3 – Franklin 2
The Spartans got two runs in their first trip to the plate and the Grizzlies spent the bulk of the opener playing from behind. After leaving two runners on in the first, Franklin got on the board in the bottom of the second with a sac fly from
Shelby Crockett, cutting the deficit in half.
The Grizzlies kept the Spartans from adding to the lead in the fifth when Rodeghier cut down a runner at home trying to score on a sac fly. The bottom of the inning saw Franklin tie things up when
Kaylee Stewart scored with two outs on an error, sliding head-first into home for the tying run.
But the Spartans would plate a run with two outs in the seventh and hold off a Franklin rally in the seventh to steal a win in the opener.
Annie Kluemper went 2-for-4 in the opener and was the only Grizzly to record multiple hits.
Sydney Pitts (9-8) went the distance in the circle, striking out two in the game.
Game Two: Franklin 5 – Manchester 4
Franklin's offense jumped on Spartan pitching early, with Rodeghier leading off the first with a double and scoring on a single from Kluemper. Crockett plated two runs in the second with a double and
Ravyn McClaren did the same in the third to spot Franklin a 5-0 lead through three frames.
Manchester scored one in the fourth and put a scare into the Grizzlies with three runs in the ninth and had the tying run in scoring position with one out. But the rally came to a halt as
Stephanni Kleber got the last two batters with a strike out and a pop up to Bostic in foul territory for the final out of the game.
Kluemper, Wallace, McClaren, Stewart and
Eriana Wagner all had two hits for the Grizzlies in game two. Kleber (14-4) picked up the win with a complete game effort, giving up two earned runs on nine hits with a walk and two strikeouts.
Up Next
Franklin closes out the regular season on Sunday (May 7) afternoon, heading to Ohio for two games with the Defiance Yellow Jackets. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.
