 |  |
Baseball Report (Week 8) - Franklin Sweeps Mount to Take Over HCAC Lead
GREENWOOD, IN- Franklin College took over the top spot in the HCAC standings after posting a weekend sweep of Mount St. Joseph (15-17, 5-9 HCAC). The Grizzlies (21-9, 11-3 HCAC) have won five of six in conference and hold a one and a half game lead over Anderson and Manchester in the standings.
Franklin second baseman Ian Sanders (Decatur, Ind./Bellmont) was 7-for-15 (.467) at the plate against the Lions last weekend. The junior hit four doubles, a home run, scored two runs, and led the squad with 10 RBI.
In Friday's 14-6 win over the Mount, Sanders was 2-for-6 with a three-run double. He added three hits with two runs and six RBI in FC's 17-4 win Saturday.
Junior outfielder Matt Zmich (Westfield, Ind./H.S.) led the Grizzlies offense in Saturday's 9-3 game one win. Zmich finished 2-for-3 with a home run and two runs scored.
The Grizzlies currently lead the HCAC standings and will face No. 14 ranked Rose-Hulman in a single game Tuesday. Franklin will tangle with rival Hanover at Victory Field in Indianapolis on Thursday night before capping off the three-game series at Hanover Saturday.
In other HCAC action...
Manchester remained in striking distance for the conference championship with an impressive three game sweep of nationally ranked Rose-Hulman this weekend. The Spartans (18-14, 10-5 HCAC) sit a game and a half out of first place with seven games remaining on the conference schedule. Manchester took both contests on Saturday, winning game one 9-8 and game two 15-6. The black and gold completed the sweep with a rain-shortened 9-5 win in seven innings Sunday. Junior John Smolinski (South Bend, Ind./St. Joseph's) was 5-for-8 during the series with the Engineers, adding six runs scored, five RBI, a home run, and a double. The Spartans have won eight of their last nine games heading into this week's schedule. MC will travel to Bluffton Tuesday before a weekend series with Transylvania Saturday and Sunday. Rose-Hulman (24-9, 12-6 HCAC) will try and get back on track against first place Franklin Tuesday.
Transylvania remained alive in the race for a conference tournament berth with a three-game sweep of Defiance. The Pioneers (20-13, 10-8 HCAC) edged the Yellow Jackets (12-19, 4-11 HCAC) 10-6 in the series opener Saturday, before knocking off the hosts 9-1 and 9-7 Sunday afternoon. Freshman infielder Pete Travisano (Louisville, Ky./Ballard) hit .583 in the series, adding four runs scored, two doubles, and seven RBI to lead the Pioneers offense. Transy sophomore pitcher Chris Bloch (Louisville, Ky./Ballard) came within three outs of a no-hitter in Sunday's 9-1 win. Bloch allowed only one hit and one unearned run, while striking out six Jacket hitters. Transy can creep closer to a tournament spot this week as the Pioneers face Mount St. Joseph at Applebee's Park Tuesday and Manchester this weekend. Defiance will travel south to Cincinnati to face Mount St. Joseph Friday and Saturday at Xavier University.
Bluffton has been playing good baseball as of late and finished the weekend with a three-game sweep of Hanover (12-20, 3-12 HCAC). The Beavers (14-18, 4-10 HCAC) swept Saturday's contests 8-6 and 7-6, while completing the sweep with a five-inning 7-3 win Sunday. Bluffton's Nick Broyles (Toledo, Ohio/Whitmer) finished the series 4-for-11 with two runs scored and six RBI. The sophomore outfielder belted two home runs and one double against the Panthers. Bluffton faces Manchester Tuesday afternoon before heading to Anderson for three games this weekend. Hanover will try and snap an 11 game losing streak as the Panthers face rival Franklin this weekend.
For a complete recap of Week 8 in HCAC Baseball, click here
