Grizzlies get better of Spartans

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By Matt Muncy, April 13, 2009

“Our guys realize the significance of each game we play. We have eleven conference games left and we want to win them all. Playing three road series to start conference play and being 8-3 is amazing,” said head coach Lance Marshall.

 

Friday’s game saw the Grizzlies fall in the ninth inning to the Spartans. Spartans took a 3-0 lead in the third before the Grizzlies scored their first run in the fourth inning. The Spartans would score one in the fifth and one in the sixth to take a 5-1 lead. In the eighth, the Grizzlies offense finally showed up, scoring five runs on two hits. After sophomore Matt Zmich reached on a fielder’s choice, loading the bases and scoring sophomore Alex Boone, junior Paul Strack cleared the bases with a grand slam. The Grizzlies had a 6-5 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth, but the lead would not hold up. The Spartans scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth to take the lead 8-5 and the Grizzlies were unable to score in the ninth.

 

“We did not play very well in the beginning of the game and we did not deserve to win that game,” said Marshall.

 

Freshman Shawn Mattingly got the start for the Grizzlies pitching five innings and giving up four runs on 11 hits, but the loss went to sophomore Cody Nees who gave up two runs on two hits in one and a third innings pitched.

 

Saturday showcased a doubleheader between the Grizzlies and the Spartans. The first game was scheduled seven innings and the second game was scheduled nine.

 

The first game saw both starting pitchers go the full seven innings. Manchester jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning off two hits. The Grizzlies offense responded in the fourth, scoring two runs off five hits, including a solo homerun by sophomore Adam Blackburn. The Grizzlies would score two more runs in the sixth to take a 4-2 lead. The Spartans answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the sixth, but were unable to score in the seventh and fell to the Grizzlies 4-3.

 

Sophomore Derrik Patterson earned his sixth win of the season after pitching seven innings, giving up six hits, two earned runs, walking one and striking out five batters.

 

Game two was a coming out party for the Grizzlies offense. After being held to under 10 runs in the last two games, the Grizzlies lit up the scoreboard, without hitting a single homerun. For the second game in a row, a Franklin College starting pitcher pitched a complete game.

 

The Grizzlies scored one run in the first, one in the second and one in the sixth to take a simple 3-0 lead. In the eighth the offense exploded for eight runs on eight hits. The Grizzlies scored 11 runs on 15 hits and committed one error in the game.

 

Freshman Nathan Ellis got his second start, second complete game, and second shutout of the season. Ellis pitched nine innings, giving up five hits, walking two and striking out five batters.

“We are not afraid to go to our bullpen. Nathan has cut his teeth and proved himself in split-squad games and earned his starts,” said Marshall.

 

Franklin College travels to Rose-Hulman Tuesday for their second and final matchup of the regular season. The game will start at 6 p.m.