After averaging a shade above 10 runs through the first eight games of the season, Franklin baseball was probably due to have an off day at the plate.

The Grizzlies were limited to just six hits, going down quietly, 7-2, in a Sunday afternoon loss to Alma at Indian Creek High School.

The visiting Scots scored single runs in each of the first four innings and tacked on three insurance runs during the final two frames.

"We were outplayed by Alma in every phase of the game," Franklin coach Lance Marshall said.

Griz starter Caden Wilburn (0-1) was touched for an unearned run in the top of the first, but his team got it back in the bottom of the frame when Josh Girvan doubled, stole third and trotted home on a single up the middle by Dyllan Redmon.

Garrett DeHart cut the Alma lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth when he doubled to right field to bring Drew Helton around from second. The Grizzlies had the bases loaded with one out in the fifth, but Scots starter Tyler Sparks caught a shallow pop and induced a flyout to center, ending the threat without any damage.

From there, the Franklin bats were silenced. Sparks and the Alma bullpen yielded just two singles over the final four innings.

Wilburn lasted 4.2 innings in defeat, scattering five hits and a walk while striking out six. Girvan had two of the six Franklin hits as well as his 54th career stolen base, five shy of the school record.

Next for the Grizzlies (5-4) is a road trip to Wilmington on Thursday (March 12, 3:30 p.m.). That game was originally scheduled for Wednesday but is being pushed back due to forecasted rain.