Grizzlies bounce back

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By Matt Muncy, March 14, 2009

The Polar Bears jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning off an RBI single to right field by junior Brett Katana. The Grizzlies were able to answer when sophomore Alex Boone scored in the bottom of the second off a grounder to third by freshman Jordon Klinedinst.

 

The Grizzlies were able to get runners in scoring position in the third inning and senior Joel Chrobak hit an RBI single to the pitcher, scoring senior Lance Noel from third base. Sophomore Matt Zmich was walked to load the bases, but sophomore Ian Sanders was thrown out at home while trying to tag up.

 

Polar Bear sophomore Adam Yanker drove in two runs in the top of the fifth with a single to right field to give them a 3-2 lead. The Grizzlies were able to get out of the inning when Sanders tried to turn the double play and hit Yanker in the helmet, causing the umpire to call Yanker and junior Greg Gibbons out due to interference.

 

In the sixth inning, Klinedinst hit a single to left field, scoring Boone from third. With the bases loaded, Noel was walked scoring senior Jim Swienconek. Junior Paul Strack hit a two-run single to right field, scoring Klinedinst and senior Adam Blackburn. Sanders grounded out to the first baseman, but scored Swienconek. Chrobak singled to left-center scoring Strack to give the Grizzlies their sixth and final run of the inning.

 

Franklin’s Boone hit his third double of the game in the bottom of the seventh and scored when Swienconek singled to right. Swienconek stole home off a wild pitch and Sanders walked to load the bases. But with two outs, Chrobak grounded out to the pitcher to end the inning.

 

Junior Luke Mehringer made a diving catch in the ninth, outrunning the third baseman and the catcher for the second out of the inning and Mehringer got sophomore Erik Stegman to ground out to second base to end the game.

 

“Luke is a great athlete. He can make plays that other pitchers might not be able to. I’m not worried about anything he does,” said Coach Marshall.

 

Mehringer earned the win for the Grizzlies and senior Brian Hill received the loss for the Polar Bears.

 

“It was a great pitching performance by Luke today. He threw 96 pitches in a complete game. He averaged close to 10 pitches per inning and you rarely see a team average 10 pitches per inning,” Marshall said.

 

Adrian College plays Ohio Northern University tomorrow at 11 a.m. and Franklin will play Ohio Northern again at 2:30 p.m.