April 23, 2016
FRANKLIN, Ind. - The Franklin College softball team tossed a pair of shutouts against Bluffton University on Saturday, April 23, securing a first ever sweep of the Beavers after Bluffton entered the day with a commanding 35-3 mark in the all-time series. It effectively ended Bluffton's slim hopes for a Heartland Conference tournament berth as the Beavers were the only team to qualify for the post-season championship in the first nine years after it went to a four-team tourney in 2007. Bluffton stands 14-20 on the season (2-10 HCAC), while Franklin improved to 23-11 on the season and 8-6 in the conference.
Josie McElroy (Mt. Orab/Western Brown) collected two hits in the opener to lead the Bluffton offense. Fellow sophomore Jessie Madzia (Massillon/Tuslaw) limited the Grizzlies to two runs on five hits in a complete-game effort. She walked two and struck out two as Franklin took advantage of a two-run double in the fifth for a 2-0 victory.
Game two saw the home team roll off six runs in the bottom of the first and never look back en route to the 13-0 mercy-rule victory. Nicole Thomas (Tontogany/Otsego) fell to 3-5 on the season after allowing six runs on four hits in two-thirds of an inning. She walked three Grizzlies in the loss.
Franklin scattered three hits in the five-inning romp.
Bluffton will return to action on Wednesday, April 27, when the Beavers head to Manchester University for a 3:30 p.m. Heartland Conference doubleheader.
-BEAVERS-
