MOUNT VERNON, Ohio – Despite getting just one fewer hits than Mt. Vernon Nazarene in the doubleheader, Grace's baseball team was unable to take down the Cougars on Tuesday.

The Lancers (10-13, 3-5 Crossroads League) lost both games by identical 8-1 scores on the road.

Grace and Mt. Vernon each had seven hits in the opening game, but the Cougars turned their seven hits into eight runs. The Cougars (14-6, 5-1 CL) scored a run in the first inning off a triple and a ground ball. MVNU added four more runs in the fourth with four hits.

In the fifth inning, the Lancers got on the scoreboard when Matt Morgart crossed home plate on a ground ball. In the bottom of the inning, the Cougars plated three runs without notching a hit. MVNU had one hit batsman, two walks and benefited from a bases-loaded error to move ahead 8-1.

Grace had two singles in each of the final two innings, but the Lancers were unable to transform their hits into runs.

Brook Vosler was 2-for-4 from the leadoff position, and Frank Rocchio and Jared Lemler were each 1-for-2.

In the second game, Grace was only outhit 8-7. But Grace left eight runners on base in the contest, and the Cougars strung together their hits to produce eight runs in an 8-1 victory.

Mt. Vernon jumped onto the scoreboard with five runs in the bottom of the third to grab control. Grace notched its only run of the game in its next at-bats. Austin Green singled to lead off the fourth and eventually came home to score on a sac fly from Jared Lemler.

Grace had a baserunner in each of the final three innings, but the Lancers were unable to score. The Lancers loaded the bases in their final at-bats in the seventh, but a potential rally was ended with a strikeout to give the Cougars the sweep.

Morgart and Green both batted 2-for-3 to pace Grace's offense, and Jason Stevens allowed one run in 2.1 innings of relief from the mound.

The Lancers return to Miller Field on Thursday for a matchup with Indiana Wesleyan at 2 p.m.