TURNERS FALLS — After giving up a run in the first inning, Franklin Tech pitcher Hannah Gilbert locked in for the final six frames on Friday against Hopkins Academy. 

The junior gave up one hit and one walk in the first and one hit in the third, but those would be the only three base runners she allowed as Gilbert struck out 13 and didn’t allow a run the rest of the way, propelling the Eagles to a 7-1 Franklin County League East victory. 

The win moves Tech to 5-0 on the season and 3-0 in the FCL East. 

“It was a good win,” Franklin Tech coach Joe Gamache said. “Always good to get a league win. Hopkins is a different team than what they were last year but they have a lot of kids who can play and kids who play outside the high school seasons. This was a quality win. It wasn’t the best hitting day by either team with the wind but both pitchers did well and we made some defensive plays behind Hannah.”

Lily Ellia got on with a walk to open the first for Hopkins, stole second, moved to third on an Alayna Bailey base hit and scored on a wild pitch, giving Hopkins the early 1-0 lead. 

The Eagles took the lead in the second. Kylee Gamache got on with a single, moved up after Kyra Goodell reached on an error and Cordelia Guerin cracked a single to drive Gamache in. Lili Inman later grounded out to drive in Goodell to give Tech a 2-1 lead.

Franklin Tech broke the game open in the third. Kait Trudeau and Lilly Ross opened the frame with singles, with Ross able to get on second after Hopkins tried to throw Trudeau out at third.

With a pair of runners in scoring position, Gilbert stepped up and knocked a hit that drove Trudeau and Ross in. Gamache followed with a base hit that drove in Gilbert, who had taken second on the throw home trying to get Ross. Guerin smashed a double to drive in Gamache and give the Eagles a 6-1 lead after three. 

Bailey reached with an error to open the fourth for Hopkins. She stole second but Gilbert got a pair of strikeouts and a ground out to close out the inning without any damage done. It would be the final base runner the Golden Hawks had, as Gilbert retired the final nine batters she faced. 

Despite it being mid-April, it was only the third game of the season for Hopkins (1-2), and head coach Lindsey Lord said there’s plenty of season left for her club. 

“They held it down defensively besides the third inning where Tech got some big hits,” Lord said. “We kept it down and started to come alive by putting the ball in play late. It’s only our third game. We’ll keep working.” 

Trudeau opened the bottom of the fourth with a base hit. The senior used her speed to steal second and third and Gilbert drilled the ball to deep center for a sacrifice fly, bringing Trudeau home to put the Eagles ahead 7-1.

Guerin added a double in the sixth, as she finished the game 3-for-3 with two doubles and a pair of RBIs. Ross tallied a base hit in the first while Inman added a single in the third to round out Franklin Tech’s 10 base hits on the day. 

Bailey and Ellia recorded the two Hopkins hits on the day, Ellia coming through with the base hit in the third. Cassie Dion went the distance in the circle for the Golden Hawks, striking out five. 

The Eagles are back in action Monday, traveling to Orange to face Mahar in an FCL East clash. Hopkins is off until Tuesday, when it travels to Dalton to face Wahconah.