LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Franklin College softball team faced a stiff test to open post-season play on Thursday (May 9), facing off with the Mount St. Joseph Lions with a spot in the winner's bracket of the 2024 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Tournament.
 
Franklin (27-12) held on for a nail-biting 2-1 win over the Lions (23-15) for their third one-run victory over The Mount in 2024. Franklin never trailed in the game and rode a brilliant pitching performance from freshman Lauren Duncan to victory in Duncan's first career post-season start.
 
It was a milestone victory for Franklin head coach Angie Bain, as she collected career win number 100 as the leader of the Griz softball program.
 
How it Happened
Franklin kept the Lions off the scoreboard in the first by throwing out the potential opening run at home plate. Two batters into their first at-bat, the Grizzlies took the lead thanks to a lead-off single from Eriana Wagner and a stolen base ahead of an RBI single from Ruth Kaiser to make it 1-0.
 
The Lions put two runners in scoring position in the second, but Duncan would keep the threat at bay and The Mount off the scoreboard. Franklin got a much-needed insurance run in the fourth inning, with Shelby Crockett coming up with a clutch two-out RBI single that scored punch runner Alyssa Pasch and make it 2-0 Franklin.
 
Duncan carried things the rest of the way, conceding a solo home run as The Mount's lone hit over the final three innings. The freshman hurler improved to 14-5 on the year, scattering seven hits with no walks and one strikeout while needing just 70 pitches to record the complete game.
 
Wagner and Karrsen Pruitt each went 2-for-3 at the plate to top the offense.
 
Up Next
Franklin advances to  face off with top seed and tournament host Transylvania on Friday (May 10) night, with the winner moving on to the HCAC championship game on Saturday (May 11) afternoon. First pitch is set for 5:30 p.m.