FRANKLIN, Mass. — Sophia Sacramone delivered when it mattered most, driving in Addi Weiss with a walk-off hit in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift Franklin to a thrilling 4-3 victory over Haverhill in the opening round of the Division 1 softball tournament.
The 12th-seeded Panthers battled back and forth with the 21st-seeded Hillies before ending the contest in dramatic fashion. With the game tied in the seventh, Weiss reached base and came around to score on Sacramone’s third RBI of the afternoon, sending Franklin into the next round.
Sacramone was the catalyst offensively all game long. The Panthers’ standout drove in three runs and came through repeatedly in key situations, including the game-winning knock. Weiss played a major role in the victory as well, reaching base and scoring the decisive run in the final frame.
Franklin showed resilience throughout the contest, answering Haverhill’s challenges and keeping the game within reach until its final at-bat. The Panthers’ defense and pitching kept the Hillies from pulling away, setting the stage for the late-game heroics.
The walk-off victory improved Franklin to 10-11 on the season and punched the Panthers’ ticket to the Division 1 Round of 16, where they will take on Wachusett Regional. First pitch is slated for 4:00 on Tuesday, June 2nd.
