WILMINGTON — The Wilmington College softball team fell in both games of a doubleheader in its season opener against Franklin College Thursday — losing 7-6 in the opener and 3-1 in five innings in the nightcap.

In game one, Arianna Layne, the reigning Ohio Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year, took the first pitch for a ride of the center field fence. The Grizzlies answered with a 4-1 lead.

Judaea Wilson had a run batted in and Logann Julian singled in another, 4-3. Down 7-3 WC picked up two on Bailey Hypes triple. Layne doubled her home, 7-6.

Lindsey Carter doubled in the seventh but Franklin ended the game with a run-saving, diving catch in the outfield. Carter, who went 4-for-4 in the game hitting, pitched the final three innings.

Layne joined Carter as the other Quaker to tally multiple hits, both of which were of the extra-base variety.

In game two, McKenna Archey doubled in Carter to tie the game in the second. But Franklin scored two before darkness ended the game in the fifth.

Both starting pitchers – Alexis Stringfellow for WC and Stephanni Kleber – pitched five innings, allowed five hits, struck out a single batter, walked a single batter and surrendered a single earned run. The difference was two unearned runs in the fifth that gave Kleber the win and Stringfellow the loss.

Archey was the lone individual to have multiple hits for either side.

Wilmington will travel to Fort Myers, Florida, for a five-game, 10-day trip beginning Sunday.