Jessica Kaurich had a hot bat for Grace on Thursday in a home doubleheader with St. Francis (Ill.). InkFreeNews file photo by Mike Deak

St. Francis (Ill.) Softball 7, Grace 3
St. Francis (Ill.) 10, Grace 0

Grace’s softball team could not register the upset of St. Francis (Ill.) on Thursday in a home doubleheader.

The Fighting Saints (8-2), who are receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25, beat Grace 7-3 and 10-0 at Coach Phil Dick Field.

Grace began the first game with confidence, just two days removed from a seventh-inning comeback win over Goshen.

Although the Saints scored a run in the top of the first, Grace responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame.

Grace’s first two batters reached base safely, and Jessica Kaurich drove in one with a double off the fence. Two batters later, Carly Ruiz had a double of her own to the right field line to score two more.

USF threatened again in the second, but Jaden Cardoso made a brilliant unassisted double play to snuff out the Saints’ inning.

The Saints did take the lead in the third thanks to back-to-back home runs, and Grace was unable to rally.

The Lady Lancers did not score again after the first inning and fell 7-3. Grace had three of its five hits in the opening inning.

Grace’s bats were slow to awaken in the second game. The Lady Lancers did not record a hit until the fourth inning.

Grace did threaten in the fourth with a two-out rally. Kaurich singled and Britney Young doubled, which was followed by a walk to load the bases. But a potential rally ended with a strikeout.

The Lady Lancers were unable to get on the scoreboard in the game, however, and settled for the shutout defeat.

Ruiz reached base twice, and Kendra Arnold singled in her pinch-hit appearance.

The Lady Lancers will play a different St. Francis at home on Saturday. This time, Grace will square off with Crossroads League foe St. Francis (Ind.) for a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Coach Phil Dick Field.