Softball Canada, former Hilltopper Franklin earn bronze at Tokyo Olympics

Jake Moore, Sports Editor

TOKYO – Softball Canada defeated Mexico by a score of 3-2 in Yokohama Stadium on Tuesday to win bronze in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Larissa Franklin, a member of Softball Canada’s roster and a former Hilltopper, is now the third Olympic medalist in WKU history. 

Franklin joins swimmer Claire Donahue, who won gold at the 2012 London Games in the butterfly leg of the 4×100 relay event, and runner Bernd Herrman, bronze medalist in the 4×400 meter relay event for West Germany in the 1976 Montreal Games.

Canada broke out to an early 2-0 lead amid a light drizzle before Mexico evened the score. Canada’s Kelsey Harshman drove in the go-ahead run in the fifth inning with a sacrifice fly and Mexico was unable to retake the lead. 

Franklin and her team’s Olympic journey began in 2019 when the roster selections were made. The pandemic derailed her plans to compete in 2020, but her journey ends with a medal.

Sports Editor Jake Moore can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @Charles_JMoore.