WINONA LAKE – In a rematch of yesterday’s doubleheader, Grace hoped to finish the weekend with two wins against Spring Arbor at the Miller Athletic Complex on Saturday afternoon.

All of the runs in game one came in the third inning for Spring Arbor, but that was all they needed in a 4-0 final. Game two also went to Spring Arbor in a 2-1 final.

Spring Arbor’s offense exploded in the top of the third inning in game one. A leadoff single and a hit by pitch set the table for a double down the left field line that would score both runners. Later on in the inning, the Cougars sent a two-run home run over the left field fence to make it a 4-0 ballgame.

The Lancers were unable to answer with any runs in their half of the inning. They struggled to produce much offense in the first half of the game.

Grace had an opportunity to score their first run of the game in the bottom of the fifth. The Lancers had runners on first and second with two outs, but they were unable to come away with anything.

The Spring Arbor bats fell silent after their big third inning as they were shut down by Scottie Clark’s four innings of relief.

The Cougar’s Duncan Patterson pitched a complete game shutout allowing just four hits and forcing eight strikeouts.
Out of Grace’s four hits, two came courtesy of Jamar Bray.

The Cougars were threatening to get a quick lead in the first inning. A walk, a single and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with no outs. The Lancers were able to get out of it without and damage being done after two strikeouts and a fielder’s choice.

Grace had a chance to break the tie in the second game. A two out single by Cameron Maxwell gave the Lancers runners on first and third with two outs, but they came up short.

The Lancers were finally able to push their first run of the day across on a two-out single by Clark to go ahead 1-0 heading into the fourth inning.

Spring Arbor was in a position to answer with runners on second and third with one out. Grace was able to force a strikeout and a groundout to get out of the inning with nothing hurt.

The Lancer lead was held until the top of the fifth inning, when the Cougars tied the game on a solo homerun sent over the left field fence.

Spring Arbor took control of the lead in the top of the sixth inning. A single down the left field line scored one run and gave the Cougars a 2-1 lead. Later in the inning Spring Arbor had the bases loaded with one out, but entered the game in the relief and was able to keep the runners stranded.

Grace had a chance to send the game into extra innings, but Spring Arbor slammed the door shut to strand the tying run at second.

Sam Memmelaar pitched a complete game for the Cougars and tallied seven strikeouts.