DANVILLE, Ky. – The Franklin softball team claimed a pair of dramatic wins on Sunday (Feb. 25), sweeping a double-header with the Centre Colonels.
The Grizzlies (5-1) plated 10 unanswered runs in the opening contest to beat Centre (3-7) 10-7. Game two saw the Grizzlies jump out to a sizable lead early before holding on to win 6-5.
Game One: Franklin 10 – Centre 7
Facing a seven-run deficit after one inning, the Grizzlies started to chip away in the third when
Molly Wallace got the Griz on the board with an RBI double. That started a string of five straight innings with a run for the Grizzlies, as
Eriana Wagner and
Ruth Kaiser both recorded RBI doubles in the fourth and
Shelby Crockett knocked in a run with a double in the fifth to make it a 7-5 game.
Genesis Munoz cut the Colonels' lead to 7-6 with an RBI single in the sixth and the Grizzlies took the lead for good with three more in the seventh, with a two-run fielder's choice and another RBI single from Munoz doing the damage.
Lauren Duncan (2-1) got the win after tossing 1.1 innings in relief to close the game, but the story in the circle was sophomore
Kamzi Gross. Gross took over for starter
Stephanni Kleber in the first and hurled 5.1 innings of scoreless ball with only four hits allowed.
Crockett led the offense with three hits with both Wallace and Munoz driving in three runs.
Game Two: Franklin 6 – Centre 5
The Grizzlies wasted no time getting on the board, with
Eriana Wagner scoring on a fielder's choice in the first.
Kaylee Stewart added an RBI single in the second and an
Abbey Martin RBI ground out made it 3-0 through three innings. Munoz and Martin each had RBI hits in the fourth and Wallace stole home on a double steal to make it a 6-0 game with three innings to go.
The Colonels battled back with four in the fifth and one in the sixth, but their seventh inning rally was shut down by
Abi Exl as she collected her second save of the year.
Duncan (3-1) earned the win after going four innings with three runs allowed in a starting role. Wallace had three hits and scored twice and Martin matched a career-high with three RBI.
Up Next
Franklin opens their home schedule next Saturday (Mar. 2) when they host the Wilmington Quakers. First pitch from Behrens Field is set for 1:00 p.m.
