MOUNT VERNON, Ohio – Grace's softball team was unable to win a road game at Mt. Vernon Nazarene on Monday.
MVNU won 7-1 in the first game and held on for a 2-1 win in the second game. The Lady Lancers (10-32, 6-24 Crossroads League) actually outhit the Cougars (20-16, 15-11 CL) in the second contest, but Grace still came up short.
All seven runs for MVNU in the opener were scored in the first two innings. The Cougars had a two-run homer in the first inning to set the tone, and they tacked on five more runs in the second with five hits.
Grace could not puncture its side of the scoreboard until the seventh inning. Erin Lawhon hit a two-out RBI single for Grace's lone run of the outing.
Lawhon was also Grace's most efficient pitcher of the game. She did not allow a run to score over the final 4 2/3 innings of work, yielding just two hits.
Sam Heim batted 2 for 4 from the leadoff position, and Jessica Kaurich was 1 for 2 with a walk.
Similar to the first game, MVNU scored all of its runs early during the second matchup.
Grace struck first. Heim singled on the first at-bat of the game and quickly stole second. She raced home after a double by Kaurich.
MVNU countered with two runs in the bottom of the first to go ahead 2-1.
No more runs were scored in the game, despite seven more hits from Grace.
In the second, third, fourth and fifth innings, Grace had a baserunner in scoring position. But the Lady Lancers could not find a clutch RBI hit to tie the score.
Heim led off the top of the seventh with a single, and she was moved to third base with two outs. Grace was unable to move Heim home, however, ending the game with a fly out.
Dori Knight pitched a gem. She allowed just six hits and two runs over six innings, adding one strikeout with one walk.
Heim batted 3 for 4 with a steal and a run, Kaurich was 2 for 4 with an RBI, and Britney Young had a hit and a stolen base.
The Lady Lancers are at home for the rest of the regular season. Grace hosts Huntington on Tuesday at 3 p.m., MVNU on Friday at 3 p.m. and Goshen on Saturday at 1 p.m.
