Gallery: Stoughton High Softball Edged in Home Opener

Scoring two runs in the top of the seventh, Franklin went up 4-2 and withstood a Stoughton rally in the bottom of the inning, beating the Black Knights softball team 4-3 Thursday afternoon in Stoughton.

Alicia Donovan crushed a home run to deep right-center field in the top of the seventh to give Franklin a 3-2 lead. Brie Flaherty singled and then scored on a Maddie Connelly double. 

Trailing by two runs, Stoughton was down to its last three outs. Emma Zuk walked to lead off the inning. With one out, Nicole Bodette hit her second triple of the game, scoring Zuk. 

But, Bodette was left stranded at third, with Stoughton suffering it's second straight loss to start the season, both of which came by a single run.
Stoughton coach Janet Sullivan isn't about to panic from this 0-2 start, however.  

"I'm pleased with the way we're playing. A couple of these games are going to break our way because we're playing pretty solid defense - a couple minor mistakes. We're stroking the ball. I'm about as happy as I can be at 0-2 because I just think the team is playing well and coming together as a team," Sullivan said. 

Franklin scored first on Thursday, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the second. Stoughton tied it up with Payton Pizzano scoring in the bottom of the fourth and took the lead when Bodette scored on a wild pitch in the fifth. 

Franklin tied the game, 2-2, in the top of the sixth. Stoughton almost took the lead in the bottom of the inning when Megan Flaherty crushed a pitch and was rounding third and attempting to score, but was thrown out at the plate for the first out of the inning.

"They made a great throw to the plate. Nine times out of 10 she's going to score," Sullivan said. 

Bodette, a freshman, had two triples and a double, leading the offense. 

"She' just playing above expectations at this point," Sullivan said.

Falherty had a triple and Sullivan also credited pitcher Emily Cramer's performance on the mound.

"She kept a very, very good offensive team in check for the most part," Sullivan said.

Stoughton travels to Taunton on April 8.