Every so often, you've just got to tip your hat to the opposing team.

On Sunday, Franklin baseball found itself in that spot after a 15-5 home loss to Earlham. The two teams had split the first two games of the series on Saturday.

"They played some great baseball," Griz coach Lance Marshall said of the Quakers.

The Grizzlies (12-9, 3-4 HCAC) actually broke the ice, going ahead 2-0 on a two-run double by Garrett DeHart in the bottom of the second inning. But the Quakers answered by scoring in three straight innings, including four in the fourth, to go in front by a 6-2 margin.

One swing from Drew Helton got Franklin climb back within a single run in the fifth inning, as the sophomore first baseman took a 2-0 pitch and hammered it over the fence in right center field. Once again, though, Earlham punched back even harder, plating two runs in the seventh inning and seven in the ninth to put it away.

Franklin was fueled offensively by Helton and DeHart, who each had two of the team's nine hits.

Next up for the Grizzlies is a weekend doubleheader at Manchester this coming Friday and Saturday (April 3-4).