MARION, Ind. - Grace's baseball team began its series at No. 19 Indiana Wesleyan on Friday.

The Wildcats won the opening doubleheader with a pair of wins (14-3, 12-5) over the Lancers. The four-game series will end on Saturday with the second doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.

Chris Griffin demonstrated a lively bat on the day, flexing his offense in the first inning. Griffin launched a solo home run to give Grace an early lead.

The Wildcats grabbed the lead with a five-run third inning and never looked back. IWU added three runs in the fourth and six in the fifth to pull away for good.

Alex Rich and Braden Compton plated later in the game for Grace, but it was not enough in the 14-3 defeat.

Dalton Turner hit 2 for 3, and Isaiah Herbster recorded a hit and a stolen base.

The Wildcats' strong offense carried into the start of the second game. IWU began the game with 10 runs over the first two innings, sparked by a double, a triple and a three-run homer.

Grace had seven hits in the contest, but the Lancers could not keep up with the Wildcats' efficient attack. IWU scored 12 runs on 12 hits to secure the day's sweep.

Griffin hit another solo home run in the fourth inning, improving his home run total to six on the season. He finished the game batting 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a run.

Patrick Danforth hit 2 for 4 with two runs and an RBI from the leadoff position, and Jeff Pawlik drove in two runs.

David Melendez and Jaron Mullet each had a walk and a run scored.

Herbster pitched the final four innings of the game in relief, allowing two unearned runs (zero earned) with three scattered hits.