Franklin, Ind. - Two complete-game pitching performances helped lead the Franklin College baseball team to a doubleheader sweep over the University of St. Francis on Sunday afternoon from John P. McDowell Field. The Grizzlies won the opener 7-3 before a 6-0 triumph in the second game.
Sophomore Jacob McMain (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) recorded six strikeouts in picking up his first win of the season over seven innings in the opening contest.
Franklin (7-8) got on the scoreboard in the first inning on a groundout by senior Tyler Ison (Whiteland, Ind./Whiteland Community) that scored junior Drew Kammerer (Fortville, Ind./Mt. Vernon).
The team plated three runs in the third inning to hold a 4-0 advantage. A single by junior Joe Ardizzone (Indianapolis, Ind./Roncalli) plated senior Jameson Brock (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville) for the first run of the frame. A throwing error on Ardizzone's steal attempt to second base opened an opportunity for Ison to score from third base. Ardizzone later scored on a fielding error by the Cougars.
Franklin took a 7-0 lead after another three-run inning in the fourth. Freshman Jackson Freed's (Westfield, Ind./Westfield) first collegiate home run, a solo homer, started the scoring in the inning. Senior Mitch Frey (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) successfully stole home on the back end of a double steal attempt. A double by Ison scored Brock for Franklin's seventh run of the game.
St. Francis scored all three of its runs in the sixth inning.
In the second game, freshman Christian Sullivan (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central) struck out six batters and scattered three hits in the shutout win. The right hander improved to 2-0 on the season.
The hosts jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the first inning. A bases-loaded walk to Ardizzone got the scoring started. A single by freshman Bo Stewart (Brazil, Ind./Northview) scored Brock for the second run in the inning.
Later, Stewart added a run-scoring double to plate Brock to give the Grizzlies a 3-0 lead in the third inning. Brock led off the frame with a walk. Franklin scored three additional runs in the sixth inning to secure the win.
Brock went 3-for-4 with four runs scored in the two games. Freed and Stewart each collected two hits in the second game. The Grizzlies recorded 15 hits in the two games.
Franklin is scheduled to return to action when it travels to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology on Tuesday, March 24 at 6 p.m. for a single Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference game. Live video and statistics of the game will be available.