WINONA LAKE, Ind. – Marian University took advantage of Grace's errors to win a pair at Miller Field on Friday.
The Lancers (12-19, 5-11 Crossroads League) dropped the first game 7-5 before falling 12-1 in the second game.
Grace wasted little time getting on the scoreboard in the opening inning. The Lancers put three of their first four batters on base to load the bases. Matt Morgart then stepped up and drove in two runs with a single to left field. With two outs, Quentin Herbster drove in the third run of the inning with a single.
Marian capitalized on Grace's fielding errors to plate four unearned runs – two apiece in the third and fifth innings. The Knights (8-13, 7-9 CL) only notched one hit in each of those scoring innings, but untimely errors by the Lancers aided Marian's cause.
The Lancers notched their fourth run of the game in the fourth inning. Brook Vosler singled and moved to third with a bunt and a single. Vosler then scampered home on a throwing error by the Knights.
Grace's defensive errors would be their undoing, however. The Lancers committed three errors between the fifth and sixth innings, allowing Marian to plate five more runs. All seven of Marian's runs were unearned in the game.
The Lancers managed to score one more run in the fifth, but the inning ended when Herbster was tagged out at home plate. Facing a two-run deficit in the seventh inning, Grace had the winning run at the plate. Jared Lemler doubled, and Herbster reached base with a walk. But Marian ended the game with a double play to escape with the win.
Herbster hit a perfect 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI, and Rocchio was 3-for-4. Lemler notched two hits, Vosler scored twice, and Morgart had two RBIs.
In the second game, Grace jumped ahead 1-0 when Logan Grigsby plated on a Knight throwing error. Grigsby's run proved to be the high point of the game for Grace.
The Knights took the lead for good with a two-run home run in the second inning and didn't look back. Marian scored four more runs in the fourth and added six more in the sixth to take a commanding 12-1 advantage.
While Grace had baserunners in several innings, the Lancers were unable to string together their hits to make runs. Grace had eight hits in the game, but the Lancers stranded nine baserunners. Colton Ferrand and Rocchio each finished 2-for-3 from the plate.
The Lancers and Knights square off again with another doubleheader at Miller Field on Saturday, starting at 1 p.m. Saturday will also be Senior Day to honor the Lancers' senior class of Matt Morgart, Brook Vosler, Tim Weber and Cody Young.
