FRANKLIN, Indiana - The Wilmington College softball team opened its season with a pair of defeats at Franklin College on Saturday, falling 5-1 in game one and losing the nightcap 4-3.
In game one, the Grizzlies took advantage of an early Quaker error in the top of the first inning as Molly Wallace doubled home a pair of runs. After a scoreless inning from both sides in the second, Franklin utilized two extra-base hits to plate three run as Genesis Munoz hit an RBI-double and Eriana Wagner cleared the bases with at two-run home run.
Trailing 5-0, Wilmington opened the fourth with a Logann Julian single and a Lindsey Carter double, putting two runners in scoring position. Samantha Schwab grounded out to third, scoring Julian, but a lineout and groundout followed, preventing any further damage. Though the Quakers only struckout three times and tallied seven hits, that run would be the only one of the game as Syndey Pitts improved to 2-0 with the complete-game victory.
Alexis Stringfellow took the loss, allowing five runs (three earned) on six hits in 2.2 innings pitched. Freshman Avree Entler pitched the final 3.1 innings for WC, allowing no runs on two hits and no walks.
The nightcap began with three scoreless innings, and just like in game one, Schwab opened the scoring for Wilmington. The junior doubled scoring both Julian and Judaea Wilson, and after a single from McKenna Archey and a walk, Bailey Hypes was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Grizzly starter Stephanni Kleber prevented further damage, however, as a popout and foul out ended the inning.
Trailing 3-0, Franklin got to WC starter Izzy Rothrock in the bottom of the fifth as consecutive wild pitches scored two runs. Hillary Huffer took the circle for the Quakers with a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the sixth, but the result was the same. A wild pitch tied the game, and an unearned run won it as a groudout scored the game-winning run. Wilmington's first two runners reached base in the top of the seventh, but the visitors couldn't deliver a game-tying, RBI-hit.
Kleber improved to 3-0 with a five-strikeout complete game while Huffer took the loss, pitching one inning in relief. Five different Quakers had one hit with Schwab's double being the extra-base knock on the game. Sydney Rodeghier and Eriana Wagner finished with multi-hit games for the Grizzlies.
Wilmington (0-2), which had its home-opener with Miami University-Hamilton canceled, will return to action next weekend as the program embarks on its annual spring trip to the West side of Florida.
