FRANKLIN – The Franklin softball team recorded the first 10-game winning streak in program history with two more wins on Sunday (Apr. 14) afternoon.
The Grizzlies (19-5, 8-0 HCAC) took both conference matchups from the Hanover Panthers (7-21, 2-6 HCAC), registering a comeback win in both contests. Franklin struck for five runs in the sixth in game one to win 8-4 and
Eriana Wagner walked off game two in the bottom of the seventh in an 8-7 victory.
Game One: Franklin 8 – Hanover 4
Wagner kicked off a dominant Sunday at the plate with a leadoff home run in the first to tie the game. A three-run home run for Hanover in the second made it 4-1 Panthers, but Franklin got a run back in both the third and fourth innings.
Still down 4-3 in the sixth, Wagner tied the game with another leadoff home run with a two-run double from
Genesis Munoz, a sac fly from
Shelby Crockett and RBI single from
Skylar Weber to follow and put the game out of reach.
Wagner went 4-for-4 with three runs scored and the two home runs. Munoz had three hits and two knocked in with Lowry going 2-for-4.
Lauren Duncan got the start and tossed three innings before
Abi Exl (5-0) took over in the circle. Exl allowed three hits and struck out three over four scoreless frames to earn the win.
Game Two: Franklin 8 – Hanover 7
The teams traded three-run first innings with Wagner belting her third home run of the day to lead off the Franklin half. The Grizzlies put up another three spot in the second with a
Molly Wallace RBI single and two-run double from Lowry, but the offense would hit a wall over the next four innings while Hanover took a 7-6 lead with one in the fifth and three in the sixth.
Franklin loaded the bases with one out in the seventh and pinch hitter
Hannah Laughlin came through with a game-tying single. Wagner stepped to the plate with two outs and the bags still full and delivered with a walk-off single up the middle to give the Grizzlies a fourth walk-off win this season.
Munoz went 3-for-4 for the second game in a row with Wagner finishing 2-for-4 with two runs knocked in. Lowry drove in three runs in the game from the five-spot in the lineup.
Stephanni Kleber got the start in game two and allowed four earned runs over 5.2 innings before Duncan (9-2) took over and earned the win with 1.1 scoreless frames.
Up Next
Franklin is back at Behrens Field on Wednesday (Apr. 17) afternoon, hosting DePauw in two non-conference games. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.
