UPLAND, Ind. - The current Crossroads League leaders gave Grace's baseball team fits on Thursday.
The Lancers could not keep pace on the road against Taylor, losing 14-2 and 10-1 in Grace's final away games of the regular season.
In the opening game, Grace was only outhit 10-6 but lost 14-2. The Lancers (19-25, 6-16 Crossroads League) committed five errors, including two innings with multiple errors.
Eleven of Taylor's 14 runs came in the fourth and fifth innings. The Trojans (35-14, 17-5 CL) scored five runs in the fourth off just two hits. Taylor benefitted with three walks and two Lancer errors.
Taylor tallied six more runs in the fifth inning off six hits.
Grace's only runs came in the top of the fourth. Xavier Harris led off the inning with a single and then scored off a double by Austin Baker. CJ Swartz repeated Baker's efforts with an RBI double of his own with two outs in the inning.
Harris batted 1-for-2 with a run, and Baker hit 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Kyle Brunner and Joe Dougherty each tossed scoreless outings in relief.
In the second game, Grace was stifled into three hits offensively in a 10-1 defeat. The Lancers had chances to score more with five walks and a hit batsman, but Grace stranded eight baserunners in the contest.
Taylor scored in each of the first four innings, including a five-run third inning.
The Lancers, meanwhile, had baserunners in scoring position in three of the first four innings but produced just one run.
In the top of the fourth, Baker walked on the first at-bat. He moved to third when Shay Hepler singled and Scottie Clark walked to load the bases. Jacob Hammel then worked the pitcher to a full count and drew a walk to score Baker.
Grace ended the fourth with the bases still loaded, however, after a strikeout and a fly out.
Mitchell Enyart doubled and had a stolen base, and Clark was 1-for-2. Clark also tossed 1.2 innings without yielding a run.
The Lancers will end the regular season with two home doubleheaders. Grace's Senior Day is Saturday against Huntington at 1 p.m. The regular season finale is on Tuesday against St. Francis at 2 p.m.
