Clarissa Knight raises her fist in victory after Knight helped Grace College beat Bethel College in softball Friday afternoon. (Photo provided by the Grace College Sports Information Department)

WINONA LAKE – A seventh-inning rally secured a sweep for Grace’s softball team over Bethel on Friday.

After winning the opener 5-1 at Miller Athletic Complex, the Lady Lancers needed a last-gasp surge to defeat the Pilots in the second game.

Grace trailed 1-0 for nearly the full game. Entering the team’s final at-bats, Grace quickly loaded the bases after a walk from Morgan Tapscott and singles by Hannah Herbster and Abby Mozingo.

Clarissa Knight then singled past the second baseman to score Tapscott and tie the game 1-1. After the first pitch of the ensuing at-bat, Bethel’s catcher slightly overthrew back to the pitcher. Herbster alertly darted for home base and just beat out the tag attempt with a slide to end the game in improbable fashion.

Herbster also excelled on the mound, pitching all seven innings to get the win. She gave up just six hits with three strikeouts in the complete-game performance. Herbster, who also batted 2-for-4, needed only 75 pitches to get through her seven innings.

Mozingo batted 2-for-4, Knight was 1-for-3 with an RBI, and Kati Gregory hit 1-for-2.

In the opening game, Grace’s bats were sharp. The Lady Lancers tallied 11 hits from seven different players.

Herbster got Grace started with a run in the first inning. The leadoff hitter singled, stole second, and was bunted to third. She then scored on a single from Emily Bobb.

The Lady Lancers racked up three more runs to open up the game in the third. Bobb, Ashley Kleinbub, Olivia Scarbrough and Tapscott singled in the inning, helping Grace to a 4-0 advantage.

Bethel scored a run in the fourth, but Grace answered with a run of its own in the fifth when Gregory’s sacrifice fly allowed Kleinbub to plate.

Erin Lawhon took care of the rest from the mound. The freshman pitched a four-hitter in the game, striking out five and allowing just one run in an impressive outing.

Herbster batted 2-for-4 with a steal and a run, Scarbrough was a perfect 2-for-2, and Knight hit 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Bobb finished with two hits and a run, and Kleinbub tallied 2 runs, 1 RBI and 1 stolen base.

The Lady Lancers remain at home Saturday, hosting Spring Arbor at noon at Miller Athletic Complex.