ONEIDA, Tenn. - Grace's softball team picked up its first win of the season at the Cumberlands Invitational over the weekend.

The Lady Lancers went 1-3 in Tennessee, beating Rio Grande and falling to Lawrence Tech, Asbury and Cumberlands.

Friday started with a 10-6 defeat to Lawrence Tech, who is receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll.

The Blue Devils jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the top of the fourth inning, but Grace scored a run in the bottom of the fourth thanks to an RBI groundout from Morgan Tapscott.

Both teams scored two in the fifth inning, highlighted by a two-run home run by Britney Young.

The seventh saw Grace fall behind 10-3, but the Lady Lancers still had fight. Jeri Ellis, Young and Jessica Kaurich each plated, but it was not enough to overcome the deficit.

Friday evening's game saw Grace struggle to generate offense. The Lady Lancers mustered three hits in a 9-0 defeat.

Kaitlyn Heffner, Ellis and Ashley Beckler picked up the hits for Grace.

Saturday opened up with another "receiving votes" team in the NAIA. Grace scored first against Cumberlands but ultimately lost 7-1.

Kaitlyn Heffner led off the game with a walk and eventually came home to score on a sacrifice fly.

But Grace was largely quiet after the first inning, accounting for four hits in the contest. Young recorded two of those hits. Ashley Beckler threw 3.1 innings and yielded two runs with two strikeouts.

The last game of the weekend resulted in Grace's first win. The Lady Lancers had eight hits in a 4-2 victory against Rio Grande.

Heffner again began the game with a hit. She was moved to third with two outs, and Kaurich drove her home with a clutch single.

In the top of the sixth, Grace pulled ahead 4-0. Kaurich had another RBI single, and Carly Ruiz produced a two-run double.

The Red Storm were held scoreless until the final out of the game. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Rio Grande picked up a two-run double. But Grace ended the contest on the next at-bat with a ground out.

Ellis earned the victory from the mound, allowing two runs on seven hits in a complete game. She also hit 1 for 3 with a run scored. 

Heffner was 2 of 4, and Young had one double and a run. Kaurich had two hits, and Morgan Tapscott had one hit and one stolen base.

The Lady Lancers will head to Alabama at the beginning of March for their spring break trip. Grace will play 10 games in Alabama between March 3-8.