FRANKLIN, Ind. – The Earlham College softball team swept conference-leading Franklin College on Sunday afternoon in HCAC competition.
GAME ONE: EARLHAM 3 FRANKLIN 1
Morgan Cooksey pitched a complete game, allowing just one hit and no earned runs while striking out two. The junior did not allow more than one baserunner in any inning on the day.
The Grizzlies scored a run after two defensive errors in the bottom of the first inning by the Quakers.
In the top of the third,
Mack Harvey launched her first career home run with one out to tie the game at 1-1.
Shelby Hill then plated the winning runs with a two-run blast in the top of the sixth inning.
Leading 3-1, Cooksey sat down three Franklin batters in order to finish off the win.
GAME TWO: EARLHAM 4 FRANKLIN 2
Shelby Messer scored the win with seven complete innings in the circle. The sophomore allowed five hits for two earned runs with six strikeouts. Messer allowed just four baserunners through 6.2 innings to begin the game, surrendering two runs on two hits with two outs in the bottom of the seventh.
Bo Shelton went 2-4 with two runs scored, two RBI and a home run.
Cierra James scored a run with two hits.
Harvey earned a leadoff walk in the top of the first inning to set the table for a two-run home run by Shelton to kick off the game. The Quakers later loaded the bases with two outs in the inning, but came away empty on a flyout.
In the top of the second inning, James hit a leadoff single to right field and advanced to second on a walk by
Mikala Newland. Shelton then hit a ball to the shortstop that allowed James to score, and leave two runners on base.
Shelton was the first Quaker on base in the top of the fourth inning, and scored on an infield groundout by
Emmerie Stump with the bases loaded for a 4-0 lead.
Leading 4-0, the Quakers fended off a two-out rally by Franklin in the bottom of the seventh for a 4-2 win.
The Quakers host Manchester University on Wednesday afternoon, and play at Anderson on Saturday. A win in either doubleheader will lock the Quakers into the field of six for the HCAC Tournament in Kokomo May 7-10th.
