WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace's softball team lost a doubleheader against St. Francis on Tuesday by a combined two runs.

The Lady Lancers (9-19, 3-11 Crossroads League) lost 10-9 in the opener and 2-1 in the second game at Miller Athletic Complex.

Grace nearly pulled off a dramatic comeback against the Cougars (14-15, 7-9 CL) in the first game. The Lady Lancers led 3-1 after two innings thanks to an RBI double from Chandler Elliott and runs in the second inning by Britney Young and Hannah Harless.

But USF's bats would not be quieted for the rest of the game. The Cougars scored in each of the final six innings, including two runs in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth frames.

Grace found itself in a 10-5 hole entering its last at-bats in the seventh. The Lady Lancers had two outs and a runner on first base but refused to go down quietly.

Hannah Herbster and Sam Heim singled with two outs, and Morgan Tapscott walked to give Grace a chance. Tapscott raced home after a passed ball to make the score 10-9. But with the tying run on third base, Grace was retired with a ground out.

Young batted 2-for-3 with two runs, Abby Mozingo had 2 hits, 1 run and 1 stolen base, and Herbster was 2-for-5 with three RBIs and a steal. Kyleigh Garner also hit 2-for-4, and Kleinbub had 2 runs, 1 hit and 1 stolen base.

The second game was a pitchers' duel between Grace's Dori Knight and USF's Katlin Augsburger. Knight sparkled, allowing only two runs on four hits and a walk. She struck out six batters and needed only 93 pitches to throw a complete game.

Unfortunately for Grace, the Lady Lancers' bats were missing in game two. Kleinbub hit a single to lead off the second inning, but that remained Grace's only hit until the last inning.

The Knights took advantage and plated a run in the third and added a second run on a catcher's interference call in the top of the seventh. That last run proved to be costly for Grace.

Emily Bobb pinch hit in the seventh inning and singled over shortstop. She came home to score on a double by Young to cut the deficit to 2-1. 

Olivia Scarbrough was hit by a pitch to give Grace two baserunners, but the Lady Lancers were unable to plate the tying run over their final two at-bats.

The Lady Lancers are back in action Thursday with a 3 p.m. doubleheader at Goshen. Grace returns home on Friday at 3 p.m. against Indiana Wesleyan.