WINONA LAKE, Ind. – Indiana Wesleyan swept a doubleheader against Grace on Friday, including a nine-inning thriller at Miller Field.

The Lancers lost the opening game 5-1 before falling 5-4 in extra innings in the second half of the twin bill.

The Wildcats (16-16, 6-4 Crossroads League) hopped onto the scoreboard first in the opener, singling in a run with two outs in the top of the third. Grace's bats were unable to gain momentum against IWU's pitching, and the Wildcats made Grace pay in the fifth and sixth.

IWU got its first two batters on base in the fifth, and a sac fly brought in the first run. A squeeze bunt scored another run in the inning. In the sixth, IWU plated two more runs without a hit. Two walks, two ground balls, an error and a wild pitch allowed the Wildcats to move ahead 5-0.

The Lancers (10-15, 3-7 CL) got a run back in the bottom of the sixth with a two-out rally. After Logan Grigsby moved to third base on a single, ground out and stolen base, Aaron Christenberry stepped up to double him in with two outs. Grace was unable to get its final four baserunners of the game on base, however, giving IWU the 5-1 win.

The Lancers were held to three hits offensively, which came off the bats of Grigsby, Brook Vosler and Christenberry. Joe Dougherty and Wesley Gensch each tossed an inning of scoreless relief.

In the second game, the Wildcats struck first again. IWU ripped off four hits in the third inning, including three in a row, to jump on top 3-0.

The Lancers cut IWU's lead to one with rally in the fifth. The first three batters reached base safely to lead off the inning, including Christenberry's RBI single. Rocchio's ground ball allowed Vosler to score from third base and make the score 3-2.

Vosler produced the game-tying run in the bottom of the seventh. After getting on base with a single, Vosler stretched to third on a single from Christenberry. Rocchio then stepped up and launched a sacrifice fly to left field, allowing Vosler to slide home for the tying run.

Neither team was able to score in the eighth, setting up a dramatic final inning. The Wildcats started off the inning with three straight singles to score two runs. A double play helped Grace stay within striking distance for its final at-bats.

Austin Baker and CJ Swartz singled during the first two at-bats of the bottom of the ninth. A bunt from Jared Lemler moved both runners into scoring position with one out. Vosler's ground ball allowed Baker to score and moved Swartz to third base with the tying run with two outs. But Christenberry's long fly ball was not long enough as the fly out secured the sweep for IWU at 5-4.

Baker was 2-for-3 as the designated hitter, Austin Green and Christenberry were each 2-for-4, and Vosler had two hits and two runs. Jason Stevens pitched seven innings as the starter, allowing three runs with six strikeouts in a solid performance.

Grace will rematch IWU on Saturday at Miller Field. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.