Grace Results: March 16
Bethel Softball 9, Grace 1
Grace 10, Bethel 8
Grace College’s softball team picked up its first win of the season in dramatic fashion on Tuesday afternoon.
After falling behind 7-1 the Lady Lancers (1-15, 1-1 Crossroads League) rallied to pick up a 10-8 victory in game one of a doubleheader against Bethel. Grace dropped the second game 9-1.
Grace’s starting pitcher Madison Bremer retired seven of the first eight Bethel (6-11, 1-1 CL) batters she faced before the Pilots began to heat up at the plate.
Bethel scored five runs in an offensive barrage in the bottom of the third.
In the fourth Jessica Kaurich earned a walk and later scored. Carly Ruiz hit a ball to center field that drove in Kaurich.
The Pilots scored in their half of the fifth and then again in the six to extend their lead to 7-1.
In the sixth inning Grace began their rally. Kaurich opened the inning up with a single. A two-run blast from Britney Young began to give the Lady Lancers life.
Four batters reached base in succession for Grace and an infield single from Ashley Beckler drew Grace within three as their half of the inning closed.
Bethel added a run in the sixth inning to make the score 8-4, but it did little to slow Grace’s momentum.
To lead off the seventh inning, Young belted a ball over the left field fence for her second straight home run.
Bethany Gardner later doubled to drive in Ruiz and Cardoso to tie the game at 8 and send it to extra innings.
In the eighth inning Elena Rolley drove in Olivia Hess who represented the go ahead run. Cardoso singled in Young, extending Grace’s lead to 10-8.
Dori Knight slammed the door on any last hope for Bethel from the pitcher’s mound, taking down the Pilot batters in order to secure the win.
Young propelled the Lady Lancers’ offense with 3 hits, 3 RBIs and 2 home runs. Ruiz and Kaurich each reached base safely four times. Cardoso also had a multi-hit game while driving in a run.
Grace looked like they were going to carry the momentum into the second game. The Lady Lancers scored in the first inning when Young continued to stay hot at the plate, driving in Jeri Ellis.
The Pilots were able to bounce back, scoring in the first three innings and keeping the Lady Lancers’ offense at bay.
Bethel would add six runs in the fifth inning to claim the run-rule shortened 9-1 victory.
Ellis, Cardoso, Young and Gardner all had hits in game two. Alexis Bergman struck out three.
The Lady Lancers continue conference play on Friday when they travel to Taylor for a 3 p.m. showdown.
IU Kokomo Baseball 6, Grace 2
Grace College’s baseball team fell 6-2 to IU Kokomo on Tuesday afternoon.
The Lancers (7-10, 4-4 Crossroads League) were looking to upset the Cougars, who are receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll.
Grace quickly jumped ahead of Kokomo in the first inning. IUK had retired the first two Grace hitters when Alex Rich singled to right field. The sophomore then stole second base.
A hard-hit ground ball from Chris Griffin found its way to the outfield, and Rich used his speed to slide into home just beating the throw.
Evan Etchison yielded the mound to Jake Decker after two innings and a strikeout.
The Cougars plated their first run in the fourth inning to draw the game even. Kokomo threatened to take the lead with runners at first and third, but Decker escaped the inning after forcing a ground out to third baseman Griffin for the 5-3 putout.
The Lancers threatened in the fifth inning when Colin Carr and Grant Buschman reached safely but were unable to drive in the go-ahead run.
Grace did take advantage of some timely hits the next time up. The Lancers strung together three straight hits, and Carr drove in Rich to give Grace the 2-1 advantage.
The Cougars were quick to answer back and used a two-out rally to take the lead 4-2. Kokomo extended the lead by two in the bottom of the eighth.
In their final time at bat Grace was unable to close the gap. Jaron Mullet drew a walk, but the Lancers could not find the hits to advance him for the final 6-2 scoreline.
Rich scored both runs for Grace while reaching base three times. Newkirk and Pawlik also picked up hits in the contest.
Grace will travel to Fort Wayne on Friday and Saturday for a four-game series against St. Francis. All four games will take place at the World Baseball Academy.