MARION – A late surge by Indiana Wesleyan allowed the Wildcats to sneak by Grace’s baseball team, 7-2, on Wednesday.

The Lancers (5-31, 5-16 Crossroads League) only trailed 3-2 entering the eighth inning of the nine-inning contest. But IWU clinched the game with four runs in the bottom of the eighth, and Grace could not make up the difference.

The league-leading Wildcats (32-16, 18-6 CL) were held to eight hits, but IWU made good on its chances. IWU had 3 doubles, 4 walks and 6 stolen bases compared to six hits overall for Grace.

The teams were scoreless for the first three innings as David Anderson did his part from the mound.

The Wildcats struck first with three runs in the bottom of the fourth, scoring all three runs with two outs.

It took Grace until the top of the seventh to put together a dangerous inning offensively. Houston Haney and Gabe Douglass reached base to start the inning, and Jaron Mullett drove in both runners to make the score 3-2.

The Wildcats reasserted a comfortable cushion by scoring four times in the eighth inning, and Grace was unable to answer with a run in the ninth inning.

Anderson pitched six innings, striking out six batters and yielding three runs. He also had Grace’s best bat, going 2-for-4.

Haney was 1-for-4 with a run, and Mullett was 1-for-4 with two RBIs.

The Lancers end the regular season with four straight home dates at Miller Athletic Complex. Grace hosts Mt. Vernon on Friday at 4 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m. in a doubleheader. Saturday’s games will also be Senior Day.