Franklin (Ind.) holds ONU bats in check, takes double header

FRANKLIN, IND. — Franklin (Ind.) pitching held the Ohio Northern baseball team to just seven hits in both games of a double header sweep Saturday afternoon at McDowell Field.

Franklin (5-5) won the first game 1-0, that featured a great pitching dual between ONU senior Mark Sankovich (2-1) and Franklin's Andy Clark (2-1).

The Grizzles scored nine unanswered runs in game two for a 9-2 victory.

In game one, Sankovich threw his third complete game in as many starts, allowing one run on just three hits and five strikeouts.

Clark also went the distance, scattering five hits while striking out six.

Offensively, sophomore Brett Katana was 2-for-3 with a stolen base.

The only run of the game came on a Paul Strack solo home run in the bottom of the fourth.

The Polar Bears started out strong in game two, putting two runs on the board in the top of the first inning off Franklin starter Derrik Patterson (1-1).

Sophomore Brandon Aselage and Loren Fleischman reached on errors and were at the corners with one out when Katana came to the plate.

The North Olmsted native, drilled a double to right-center to score Aselage and advacne Fleischman to third.

Fleischman then scored on a groundout by sophomore Jeff Pope to put the Polar Bears in front 2-0.

Franklin quickly responded with three runs in bottom of the first on a single, sac fly and a past ball.

The Grizzles struck for two more runs in the bottom of the fourth as Strack knocked a triple down the left field line to score a pair.

Franklin scored another run in the fifth and three more in the seventh to cap the scoring and take the 9-2 victory.

Senior Drew Wieland (1-1) started game 2 for ONU, allowing six runs and striking out six in 4 2/3 innings.

Patterson settled down after a shaky first inning and allowed just two hits in six innings to pick up the win.

Releivers Cody Nees and Nathan Bryant combined to pitch the final three innings without allowing a hit.

The teams with play another double header on Sunday beginning at Noon.