BLUFFTON, Ohio – Grizzlies Softball team traveled to Bluffton, Ohio to face off against the Beavers of Bluffton University on Saturday (May 3) afternoon at Bluffton Field.
 
The Grizzlies (20-11, 10-8 HCAC) dopped the double header to the Beavers (15-23, 5-13 HCAC), losing game one 12-13 in extras and 3-4 in game two.

Game One: Franklin 12 – Bluffton 13 (8 inn.)
McKenna Lucas got the team on the board with a SAC bunt to advance Alyssa Pasch to take the 1-0 lead in the top of the second. Bluffton would take a 3-1 lead at the bottom of the second. Molly Wallace would tie the score 3-3 with a drive down the infield line. The Beavers would put a run of their own in the third to take the lead back 3-4. Zoey Kugelman would bring it back to an even 4-4 with a single to left and error by the infield. The Grizzlies would remain scoreless with Bluffton going on a 7-0 run to go into the sixth down 4-11.
 
Ending the scoring drought in the sixth, Franklin's Kugelman would single to right field to bring in a run. Kugelman singled to right to score Wallace. Fuhrman would reach first on an fielding error, allowing Ruth Kaiser to get to home. Another fielding error by Bluffton allowed Kaylee Rhoton to touch home. Kaylee Stewart doubled to left center to bring in two runs in the seventh to tie the game up 11-11. FC went on an 8-0 run through eight innings to take a 12-11 lead with Lucas batting a SAC fly to score Kamzi Gross. Bluffton would have the last opportunity in the bottom, scoring to end the game.  
 
Kylie Kadel would pitch four inning allowing nine hits, six runs before exchanging with Gross for the last three innings, who allowed five hits, seven runs, while striking out three batters. Stewart, Kugelman, and Wallace led the team in the batters box with two hits and two RBIs apiece.
 
Game Two: Franklin 3 – Bluffton 4
Franklin got the board first with Olivia Staigl singling to center field to bring in Belle Neiling, taking a 1-0 lead in the fourth. Staigl would return in the fifth with a double to right field to score Kugelman to go up 2-0. Bluffton would get the bats going in the bottom of the fifth, scoring four runs to secure the 2-4 lead. Kugelman put the ball through the left side to get Lucas through home to bring the Beavers lead to one in the sixth. A scoreless seventh for the Grizzlies kept them from tying or taking the lead on the game.
 
Zugelman obtains the loss allowing four runs on seven hits, two base on balls, while striking out five batters. Kugelman, Eriana Wagner, Staigl, and Wallace all led the team in hits with two for each of them. Staigl earned herself two RBIS, while Kugelman got one.
 
Up Next
The Grizzlies will be in HCAC tournament action starting this Thursday (May 8), with a TBA on an opponent as the season wraps up in the next couple of days.