FRANKLIN, Ind. - The Kalamazoo College softball team opened the 2023 season with a road doubleheader against Franklin on Sunday afternoon (Mar. 5). The Hornets won a thrilling first game in extra innings 4-3 before falling in game two 5-1.

GAME 1 - Kalamazoo 4, Franklin 3 (8 innings)

Kalamazoo got off to a fast start with a run in the first half inning of the season. Lizzy Rottenberk led off the inning with a single and advanced to second in the next at-bat. Sam Moss brought in Rottenberk to score on an RBI double to take the 1-0 lead.

However, Franklin responded in the next half inning with a two-run home run to take a one-run lead of its own.

The fourth inning is when the Hornets had a response. Rottenberk stepped up to the plate with two outs after Amy McNutt was hit with a pitch, and Jaycee Rider singled to put runners on first and second. Rottenberk roped a triple to the right-center field gap to bring both runners into score and regain the lead.

Kalamazoo had a chance to win in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Franklin got a runner to third with one out. The Grizzlies would score on a wild pitch to tie the game and force extra innings.

The Hornet offense delivered in the eighth inning with the eventual game-winning run. After Julia Rambo singled with one out, McNutt reached on a fielder's choice and Emma Newlove singled to put runners on first and second. Rider came up with the clutch hit, singling in McNutt for the win.

Moss (1-0) tossed all eight innings in the circle, allowing three runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out five.

Rottenberk finished game one 3-5 at the plate with two RBI. Newlove reached base three times with two hits and a walk, while Rider also had a multi-hit performance.

GAME 2 - Franklin 5, Kalamazoo 1

Franklin was the first to score in game two with another two-run home run in the second inning. However, the Hornets had a response in the fourth as Lucy Hart and Moss hit back-to-back doubles to cut the deficit in half.

Unfortunately, this was the only run Kalamazoo could score as the Grizzlies added a run in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. Sacrifice flies brought the first two runs home; the third was an RBI single.

Jordan Cook (0-1) started game two in the circle and went five and two-thirds innings, surrendering five runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out three. Cecilia Schihl came in to get the last out of the sixth inning.

The Kalamazoo offense totaled three hits and a walk in game two; all doubles by Hart, Moss, and Mackenzie Moore.

The Hornets compete next Thursday (Mar. 16), taking on Rutgers-Camden and Wisconsin-Stout in their first two games of the spring break trip in Florida.