MADISONVILLE, Tenn. -- Grace College's baseball team started the 2017 season as they played its first two games of the year against Hiwassee College in Tennessee.
The Lancers (0-2) lost both games in Friday's doubleheader. Grace was unable to put up much of a fight in the first contest, losing to the Tigers 8-0. The second game featured back-and-forth action with the Lancers coming up short 4-3.
Hits were hard to come by in the first two innings of game one. Both teams struggled the first time through the lineup. Scottie Clark got off to a hot start on the mound as both teams were scoreless after two innings.
Hiwassee (2-2) struck first in the bottom of the third inning. The Tigers recorded four hits in the half inning and took advantage of a walk and a hit batter to gain a 3-0 lead. Grace was unable to answer.
Xavier Harris got the Lancers' first hit of the season in the top of the fourth with a double to deep left field. He would get called out advancing to third on a ground ball to the shortstop the next play. Chase Baker singled up the middle to give Grace runners on first and third with two outs, but they would be stranded to end the inning.
The Tigers added three more runs on to their lead in the bottom of the fourth. They added four more hits to their total in the inning, as they also capitalized on another hit batter. Hiwassee's offense did not stop there as they added an insurance run in both the fifth and sixth innings.
Chase Baker was 1-for-1 with two walks in his season debut. Scottie Clark got the loss in game one, allowing six earned runs on eight hits in 3.2 innings pitched.
Grace's bats awoke in the second game as they started the first inning by scoring their first two runs of the season. Hunter Ackerman led off the game by getting hit by a pitch. He was scored on a double to deep center field by Austin Baker. Austin Baker later scored on a base hit by Bray, giving the Lancers a 2-0 lead to start the game.
The Lancers failed to take advantage of having the bases loaded with one out in the top of the second inning. Grace drew back to back walks from Gavin Bussard and Ackerman, followed by a single by Austin Baker. Hiwassee slammed the door to prevent the Lancers from extending their lead.
Hiwassee responded with their first run of the game in the second inning. The Tigers capitalized on a hit batter, followed by a double down the left field line. Grace's offensive momentum was halted through the middle innings, as they were unable to add insurance runs to their lead.
Another hit batter, followed by a double led to Hiwassee tying the game at two in the bottom of the fourth. The Tigers took the lead in the fifth on a sacrifice fly to go ahead 3-2. The situation looked bleak for Grace until the top of the seventh.
Harris doubled with one out in the inning, putting the tying run on base. He advanced to third on a passed ball the next pitch. With the next batter striking out, Grace needed a clutch hit to extend the game. Chase Baker delivered, lining a ball passed the shortstop for a double to tie the game at three.
Grace was unable to turn the momentum into a win. Hiwassee singled to put the winning run on base. A defensive error moved the runner to second base. The runner advanced to third on a wild pitch, followed by a long fly ball to right field that was bobbled, scoring the winning run.
Austin Baker went 2 for 4 with an RBI in the second contest. Joe Dougherty started the game on the mound for the Lancers. He pitched four innings only giving up four hits and two runs. Kyle Brunner provided two solid innings of relief. Brunner allowed no hits, giving up one run off a hit batter and sacrifice fly.
The Lancers will look to rebound when they play Hiwassee in another doubleheader tomorrow. First pitch for game one will take place at 12 p.m.
