Softball catches first win

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By Zach Ruark, March 11, 2010

“It felt good. The team did great considering we played teams who were on scholarships,” senior Tracey Smith said.

 

The Grizzlies started the tournament against Chattanooga State, St. Johns River, then they played Ohio Valley and Savannah and a double-header against Pikeville College (Ky.).

“We were the only NCAA Division III team,” Watson said. “One thing is for certain, our girls can hit.”

 

The team had a total of five home runs in eight games.

 

Franklin wasn’t able to hold back Chattanooga State’s offensive attack in a five-inning game as it gave up 18 runs on 16 hits and two errors. Mitchell pitched the first three innings and Bachek the last two. The Grizzlies had no runs and no hits.

 

In their second game the Grizzlies were able to put up two runs on seven hits and one error. Mitchell led the attack going two for two followed by Tichenor and Pullen who had an RBI each.

 

Bachek pitched for Franklin for the first three innings – giving up nine hits and no walks – and Tichenor pitched the last two, giving up six hits and one walk. St. Johns totaled 15 hits.

 

In the loss to Ohio Valley, Franklin had one run on four hits, two of which were from Whitson who went 2-3 with the only RBI. On the mound for Franklin was Mitchell through the first four earning four strikeouts and giving up five hits with on two errors and two walks. Bachek pitched the last two innings, gave up no hits and walked just one batter.

 

Against the #23 ranked Savannah College the Grizzlies scored two runs on five hits and one error. Franklin was led by Beasley who went 1-2 and had both the team’s RBIs. Tichenor pitched for the Grizzlies and had one strikeout, four walks and gave up ten hits through two innings and two batters. Bachek – who had no strikeouts, no walks, and gave up four hits – finished the game. Savannah had 10 runs with fourteen total hits on only on error.

 

In the first game of the double-header with Pikeville, Franklin had four runs on seven hits. The team was led by Rausch who hit a three-run homer in the first inning. Beasley had the other RBI. Franklin allowed four runs on seven hits and two errors.

 

Pitchers included Mitchell – who pitched the first 5 innings and two batters – gave up five runs on nine hits and had four strikeouts with four walks. Bachek pitched the last inning and a batter and gave up only one run and two hits with no walks and no strikeouts.

 

The second game was Franklin’s first win of this season as they topped Pikeville 8-4. The eight runs came from nine hits. Team leaders were Tichenor who went 2-2 at the plate with one RBI, Whitson 2-3 with two RBIs, Mitchell 1-4 with one RBI, Moore 1-4 with 2 RBIs, Beasely 1-2, and Leming 1-4.

 

Tichenor pitched through the first four innings allowing three runs, five hits, three walks, and one strikeout; Bachek in two innings allowed one run on only two hits, one walk, and no strikeouts; Mitchell closed allowing only one hit, one walk, and had one strikeout. The Grizzlies recorded no errors.

 

 “We have tremendous talent throughout our roster, and we’re an extremely young team,” says Coach Watson. The next game is Monday March 15 against Greenville College.