Softball team swept in season-opening doubleheader at Franklin

FRANKLIN, Ind. – The Olivet College softball team lost both games of its season-opening doubleheader against Franklin (Ind.) College, 12-3 and 13-1, this afternoon at Behrens Field.

• Final Scores: Franklin 12, Olivet 3 (5); Franklin 13, Olivet 1 (5)
• Location: Behrens Field; Franklin, Indiana
• Records: Olivet 0-2 overall, Franklin 9-1 overall

• The Grizzlies took advantage of two Comet errors to push across three unearned runs in the first inning.
• Franklin added to its lead in the second inning when it sent 10 batters to the plate and scored seven runs.
• The Comets got on the scoreboard in the top half of the third inning when they pushed across three runs on an RBI-double by junior Brielle Broderick and run-scoring singles by senior Jessica Barnes and freshman Violet Porter.
• The Grizzlies capped the scoring with single tallies in their half of the third and fourth innings to end the game early due to the eight-run mercy rule.

• Olivet recorded four hits, all in the third inning.
• In addition to the RBI hits, senior Erin Brady had a single.
• Barnes was tagged with the pitching loss, as she threw four innings and gave up 12 runs (eight earned) on 10 hits and four walks.

• Eriana Wagner went 2-for-2 with a home run, double and four RBI.
• Annie Kluemper and Sydney Bostic each collected two hits.
• Kluemper, Molly Wallace and Sydney Rodeghier scored two runs apiece.
• Hadley Fuhrman picked-up the pitching win after throwing the first three innings.
• Sydney Pitts tossed two scoreless innings of relief.

• The Comets scored a run in the top of first inning. Brady hit a two-out single and came around to score on Barnes' double down the left field line.
• The Grizzlies erupted for 13 unanswered runs – nine in the first inning, two runs in the second and two runs in the third – to post the five-inning mercy win.

• Olivet tallied six hits, including a 2-for-3 performance by freshman Corina Hernandez.
• Other hits were by a double by Barnes, and singles by Brady, junior Meredith Morrel and sophomore Summer Smith.
• Sophomore Malaya Shireman started in the circle and surrendered 11 runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks.
• Freshmen Madison Mervine and Madison Milot made their collegiate pitching debuts. Mervine allowed two unearned runs, while Milot pitched a scoreless inning.

• Franklin totaled nine hits and took advantage of seven Comet errors.
• Kluemper, Rodeghier and Wallace each registered two hits. The lone extra base hit was a double for Wallace.
• Wagner and Skylar Weber scored two runs apiece.
• Kylie Kadel was the winning pitcher after tossing the first four innings.

• Olivet is off until Friday, April 24, when it travels to Bexley, Ohio, for a doubleheader against Capital University, starting at 3 p.m.