<p>Franklin rallied with three runs in the top of the seventh to beat Whiteland 6-5 in baseball Tuesday in Whiteland.</p>
<p>The Grizzly Cubs led 3-0 after two innings but found themselves staring at a 4-3 deficit heading into their final at-bat after Whiteland scored three times in the sixth.</p>
<p>But Franklin never faltered. Thanks to one Whiteland error and two passed balls, the Cubs plated three runs to post the huge come-from-behind win.</p>
<p>“(Luke) Helton is a really, really good pitcher (for Whiteland) and to lose the lead, that’s really demoralizing,” Franklin coach Ryan Feyerabend said. “To get back in there and battle against that kind of arm, I’m really pleased with these guys.”</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery
<p>Franklin (8-7, 4-3 Mid-State) jumped on Whiteland starter Helton early. A passed ball on a strikeout with two outs opened the door for the Grizzly Cubs in the second who jumped out to a 2-0 lead on George Admire’s two-run home run to left.</p>
<p>The Cubs tacked on a third run in the third when Luke Miles singled, moved over to third on a passed ball and a wild pitch and scored on Alec MacLennan’s sacrifice fly.</p>
<p>Whiteland, meanwhile, could do nothing against Franklin starter Miles. The Warriors (9-8, 5-2) had only three baserunners through the first four innings with one getting erased on a double play.</p>
<p>Garrett England finally broke through for Whiteland, opening the fifth inning with a solo home run to get the Warriors on the board. Another solo homer, this one by Chase Bennett, kicked off a three-run sixth for Whiteland that also saw Nick Carrizales double and Brady Reed drive in a run with a sacrifice fly.</p>
<p>But Whiteland’s lead was short-lived as the cascade of mistakes in the fourth was simply too much to overcome. Bennett added a second solo home run in the seventh, but the Warriors couldn’t get closer.</p>
<p>“We were sloppy and gave runs away and it cost us the game,” Whiteland coach Scott Sherry said. “(Franklin) took advantage of the mistakes. They put the ball in play when they needed to and made the plays defensively.”</p>
<p>Miles was the hero for the Grizzly Cubs, going 3 for 4 at the plate with a double. He also got the win on the mound after allowing five runs on nine hits with three strikeouts and no walks. Tyce Miller also went 3 for 4 with an RBI for Franklin.</p>
<p>Only two of the six runs Helton allowed were earned, but he was still stuck with his first loss of the season. The righthander allowed 10 hits and struck out eight while walking only one.</p>
<p>Bennett, England and Iyan Pelfree each had two hits to account for six of Whiteland’s nine on the day.</p>
<p>The two teams will wrap up their two-game series today in Franklin.</p>
