WILMORE, Kent. -- Grace's baseball team earned their first win of the 2017 season as they split their first doubleheader against Asbury on Friday.

The Lancers went into the bottom of the seventh in the second game tied at 2. The first two batters of the inning were unable to start a rally, but Gavin Bussard refused to let Grace go down quietly. The freshman launched a solo home run over the left-centerfield fence to put the Lancers ahead 3-2.

That lead was all Jason Stevens needed as he came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh. Stevens set down the side in order to earn his first save, and give the Lancers their first win of the 2017 campaign.

Both teams battled to take hold of the lead during game one. The first game itself consisted of seven lead changes as both offenses put up big numbers on the scoreboard.

Asbury struck first by putting up five runs in the first inning. They took advantage of several walks combined with some key singles to set the tone for the game, ending the first leading 5-0.

Grace answered back in a big way, responding with a nine run second inning. The Lancers got two quick outs to start the inning, but patient at-bats drew several walks and hit batters. Grace only needed 3 hits in the inning, but the came at crucial moments. Doubles by Bussard, Mitchell Enyart, and Chase Baker gave Grace their first lead of the game with a score of 9-5.

The Eagles responded immediately with four runs in the bottom of the second. Will McDonald doubled to score one run; he was followed by a three-run home run by Chase Martin which tied the game at nine. A sacrifice fly and a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the third gave Asbury an 11-9 lead.

The Lancers clawed their way back by scoring one run in the fourth off a Will Swisher double, followed by Matt Warren's single. Grace took back the lead in the fifth inning scoring two runs, the go-ahead run coming on a blooper down the right field line by Baker.

Asbury did not let Grace have the lead for long, as they scored two runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth on three hits. The Lancers took the lead right back in the sixth, taking advantage of a dropped infield pop fly. Hunter Ackerman's double put Grace ahead 14-13 going into the bottom of the sixth.

Grace was unable to keep Asbury from scoring in the sixth. Christian Beckley led off the Eagles' part of the inning with a triple. He was scored on a single by McDonald. Josh Blancet singled to drive in the go-ahead run. The Lancers were unable to respond in the top of the seventh.

Ackerman was 2 for 3 in the first game with an RBI. Baker was 2 for 3 with three RBIs. Enyart had a three RBI game going 1 for 2 with a walk. Bussard was 2 for 3 both, as he and Warren had two RBIs each.

Asbury was led by Matt Cohick and McDonald. Cohick went 3 for 3 and McDonald went 4 for 4. McDonald and Martin totaled four RBIs in the game. Martin earned the save when he came in to pitch the seventh inning. Both teams struggled to find the strike zone, combining for 19 walks.

The second game was a low scoring affair. Both teams struggled to drive in baserunners. Grace scored the first run of the game on a double by Ackerman that scored Cameron Maxwell, giving the Lancers a 1-0 lead in the top of the third.

Asbury wasted little time putting some runs of their own on the board. The Eagles relied on clutch two-out hitting to score two runs, giving Asbury a 2-1 lead.

The game turned into a pitcher's duel after the third. Scottie Clark started the game for Grace on the mound, striking out five and giving up two runs in five innings pitched. Kyle Brunner pitched a perfect inning in the sixth, striking out two.

The Lancers manufactured a run in the sixth to tie the game at two. With the bases loaded, Jason Stevens hit a sacrifice fly to right field to bring in the runner at third. Bussard's two-out home run in the seventh lead the Lancers to picking up the win.

Bussard was 2 for 4 with the game winning RBI in the second game. Asbury's Brady Ast and Beckley went 2 for 4, Beckley tallied an RBI. Chase Martin went 2 for 3 with an RBI.

This was Coach Cam Screeton's first win as a collegiate head coach. When asked about the game, Coach Screeton said, "It feels good to get the win. I'm proud of the way the guys competed in both games. When we were down we battled back."

Grace will look to pick up two more wins when they play another doubleheader tomorrow. First pitch of game one will be at 1 p.m.