RICHMOND, Ind. – The Franklin baseball team got a pivotal three-game weekend series underway on Saturday (Apr. 26), with two games against the Earlham Quakers.
After dropping the opening contest 6-5, the Grizzlies (18-17, 9-9 HCAC) salvaged an afternoon split by hanging on to beat the Quakers (16-19, 9-10 HCAC) 6-4 in game two.
The afternoon saw freshman infielder
Josh Girvan continue his assault on program stolen base records, as he set the single-game record for steals in game one.
Game One: Earlham 6 – Franklin 5
The Grizzlies jumped out to a 3-0 lead through four-and-a-half innings with two runs coming on Earlham errors and
Colin Goley knocking in a run with a single. Earlham got one run back in both the fifth and sixth innings but Franklin restored a two-run lead with
Dyllan Redmon knocking in a run in the seventh to make it a 4-2 game.
But the hosts got two runs in the seventh and two more in the eighth to take this first lead of the afternoon as the game headed to the ninth. Redmon brought the Grizzlies back within a run with a one-out RBI single and Franklin put the tying run in scoring position with the heart of the order due up. But Earlham held on for the win, getting the 4-5 spots in the Franklin lineup out to end the game.
Nic Deering went 3-for-4 with two runs scored in the leadoff spot with Goley going 2-for-4 at the plate. Girvan became the first player in program history to steal five bags in a game, succeeding every time he took off on the base paths in the opener.
Matthew Johnson got the start and allowed two runs on three hits with nine strikeouts over 5.2 innings.
Game Two: Franklin 6 – Earlham 4
Down by a run in the top of the fourth,
Ian Nuckles crushed a solo home run to bring the Grizzlies even. The Grizzlies took their first lead of game two later in the fourth, with Girvan smacking a three-run double into the right field corner.
Andrew Wallace brought a run in with a sac fly in the seventh and Franklin tacked on another in the eighth to take a 6-3 lead into the ninth. The Quakers put the first two runners of the inning on base, but
Garrett DeHart made the move from shortstop to the mound and nailed down the final three outs for the first save of his career.
Deering recorded another three-hit game with Girvan, Redmon and Goley all recording two hits.
Cameron Manuel (4-0) turned in six strong innings, scattering five hits with three walks and two strikeouts to earn the win.
Up Next
The two teams are back at it for the final game of the series on Sunday (Apr. 27) afternoon, with first pitch from Sadler Field set for noon.
