WINONA LAKE, Ind. – Grace College Baseball was three outs away from a two-win day after stealing the first game from Spring Arbor on a walk-off Friday afternoon at the Miller Athletic Complex.

Spring Arbor (14-18, 9-7 Crossroads League) held a 1-0 lead heading to the bottom of the seventh. It took Grace (19-21, 6-12 CL) until their last inning at the plate, but they made it count. CJ Swartz led off the inning with a single. He was pinch ran for by Shay Hepler who was moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt. That set the table for pinch hitter Scottie Clark. Clark singled to centerfield which was enough to bring the tying run home.

It looked like the game was going to be heading to extra innings and the Lancers had runners on first and third with two outs. Xavier Harris had other plans as he singled to left field to bring in the winning run.

The first game was a pitcher's duel as Logan Grigsby took the bump for the Lancers. Grigsby pitched a complete game, allowing just one run on just two hits.

Grace had a chance to score the first runs of the game in the second inning. The Lancers had runners on first and third with one out and had the bases loaded with two outs, but they were unable to come up with a clutch hit to take the lead.

The game sailed along smoothly as the pitching from both teams left both offenses frustrated.

Both teams had a chance to take control of the game in the fifth inning. In the top of the inning Spring Arbor had a leadoff single and used a bunt to get a runner in scoring position with one away. Grigsby struck out the next batter and forced a fly out to end the inning.

Hunter Ackerman's double in their half of the fifth gave Grace the same situation, a runner on second with one out with the heart of their lineup coming up. However, the Lancers still came away with nothing.

Spring Arbor took advantage of a hit by pitch, a balk and a stolen base to lead off the inning by bringing in the first run of the ball game on a sacrifice fly.

Grace was unable to answer in the sixth inning, but they were able to do enough damage in the seventh to earn the win.

Swartz produced two hits for the Lancer offense in the first game.

The offense got started almost immediately in the second game as the Cougars scored the first run of the game on a homerun in the top of the first.

Grace answered by scoring two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. The Lancers produced those runs on three hits in the inning as well as by taking advantage of two Cougar errors. The Lancers were in position to do more damage as the inning ended with the bases loaded.

The Lancer offense had another chance to increase their lead in the bottom of the second. Grace had runners on second and third with one out, but back to back strikeouts ended the inning.

Jamar Bray started the bottom of the third with a single and was moved over to second with a sacrifice bunt. Austin Green singled to centerfield, Bray advanced to third and throwing error on the play by Spring Arbor allowed Bray to score, increasing the lead to 3-1.

Grace failed to take advantage of another scoring opportunity again the fourth inning. The Lancers had runners on second and third with one out and the bases loaded with two outs, but they were unable to execute any further.

The score remained the same heading into the top of the seventh. That was when Spring Arbor's offense started to show some signs of life. The Cougars produced two hits in the inning and took advantage of a Lancer error and two hit batters. By the end of the inning, Spring Arbor scored three runs and took the lead 4-3.

Grace was unable to mount any sort of comeback attempt in their half of the inning as the Cougars returned the favor by stealing game two.

Blake Converset started the game on the mound for the Lancers and pitched six innings allowing just one run. Clark was put in two close the door, but he gave up three runs in the attempt for the save. Just one of Clark's runs were earned.

Ackerman shined from the leadoff spot, going 4 for 4 in the second game. Bray had two hits of his own for the Lancer offense.

Grace will meet Spring Arbor again on Saturday as they look to pick up two more wins to finish out the weekend. First pitch will be at 1 o' clock at the Miller Athletic Complex.