FRANKLIN, Ind. - The Kalamazoo College softball team split the doubleheader against Franklin on opening weekend, falling in game one 6-2 in nine innings and winning game two 15-6. The Hornets begin 2024 1-1, while the Grizzlies are now 8-2.
GAME ONE
Scoring Plays
Kalamazoo scored the first run of the game in the first inning as Jordan Wesaw drove in Lizzy Rottenberk in her first collegiate at-bat. The Hornets extended the lead in the third with the help of the Franklin defense, as Wesaw scored on a Grizzlies' error.
Franklin got a run back in the bottom half of the third inning with an RBI single. The Grizzlies then tied the game up to eventually force extra innings in the sixth with an RBI double. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Franklin took advantage of a Kalamazoo error and two walks by winning the game on a walk-off grand slam.
Pitching
Maddy Vrba (0-1) pitched the whole game in her collegiate debut, allowing six runs (two earned) on nine hits and two walks with seven strikeouts.
Hitting
Jordan Wesaw got on base in all four at-bats in her collegiate debut by going 3-3 with a double, RBI, run scored, walk, and a stolen base. Brynna Garden gained the other RBI, and Emma Newlove was on base twice with a double and a walk.
GAME TWO
Scoring Plays
Kalamazoo struck first again in game two during the first inning as Jordan Wesaw drove in Lizzy Rottenberk on a sacrifice fly. Brynna Garden brought in Landrie Fridsma on an RBI single and then scored on another single by Julia Rambo. The Hornets extended the lead to 5-0 as Wesaw drove in two on a single to center field.
Emma Newlove added to the scoring line in the third inning with a solo home run, her first of the season. Wesaw continued her hot start in the fourth inning with an RBI double, making the lead 7-0. Franklin cut into the lead in the bottom of the inning on a double that brought in two.
In the fifth inning, the Hornets got those two runs back as Rambo scored on a fielder's choice and an RBI double by Fridsma in her second career game. The big inning for the Grizzlies came in the bottom half of the fifth as four runs crossed the plate. Franklin had an RBI single, a two-RBI double, and scored on a Kalamazoo error.
Kalamazoo scored four more runs in the sixth to make the score 13-6. Newlove got the inning going with an RBI single, and then Jaycee Rider also brought in a run on a single with two outs. Rottenberk capped off the inning with a two-RBI single. In the seventh inning, Wesaw tripled for a run and then scored on a sacrifice bunt by Garden for the final two runs.
Pitching
Jordan Cook (1-0) got the win after allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits and a walk with a strikeout. Cecilia Schihl pitched the other two and a third innings and did not allow a run.
Hitting
Jordan Wesaw was a home run away from hitting for the cycle, going 3-4 with five RBI, tied for the second-most RBI in a game in program history. Julia Rambo tied for the most hits in a game in program history, finishing 4-5 at the plate with two runs and an RBI. Lizzy Rottenberk was 3-5 with two RBI, two stolen bases, and four runs scored, tying the single-game program record for runs scored. Emma Newlove had three hits with a home run, two RBI, and a run scored. Landrie Fridsma and Jaycee Rider had two hits each, and Brynna Garden finished with two RBI.
As a team, the Hornets finished with 15 runs, 20 hits, 13 RBI, three doubles, a triple, a home run, and three stolen bases. That is the second-most hits and tied for the sixth-most runs in a single game in program history.
Up Next
Kalamazoo will begin its Florida trip with games against Middlebury and Western New England on Thursday (Mar. 21) at 11:30 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.