WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace's softball team was unable to produce a win on Friday against rival Bethel.
The Lady Lancers fell 10-2 and 16-7 at Coach Phil Dick Field.
Bethel seized control of the opener early with a pair of crooked innings. The Pilots catapulted in front 7-0 after the top of the third, putting Grace into a hole it could not climb out of.
Grace did manage to score in the bottom of the third with an efficient outburst. Madison Bremer led off the inning with a double, and Jeri Ellis followed with a double of her own to drive in Bremer.
Grace only managed one more run, however. In the bottom of the seventh, Britney Young had another leadoff double. She came home thanks to a two-out single by Olivia Hess.
Ellis hit 2 for 3 with an RBI. Young and Hess were also 2 for 3.
The second game was filled with back-and-forth action. Each time Grace scored, Bethel seemed to have an answer prepared.
The Lady Lancers scored twice in the bottom of the second to take the lead. Laikyn Lowe started a two-out rally with a double, and Hess brought her in with a single. On the next at-bat, Elena Rolley doubled to give Grace a 2-0 lead.
The Pilots countered with a four-run third with all four runs coming on home runs. But Grace tied the game with two runs in the fourth thanks to RBIs from Rolley and Lauren Byrer.
Bethel tried to pull ahead with three runs in the top of the fifth, but Grace had no trouble keeping pace.
Jaden Cardoso reached base with a single, and Britney Young promptly parked a two-run homer to center field.
With two outs in the inning, Lowe tied the score with one swing, belting a solo home run to tie the game 7-7.
Unfortunately for Grace, Bethel had one major inning left. The Pilots poured in nine runs in the top of the sixth. The Lady Lancers did not have a response in the bottom half of the frame, and the run rule ended the game after six.
Rolley had a hot bat, going 3 for 3 with two RBIs, and Lowe went 2 for 3 with two runs and one RBI.
Hess finished 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI, and Young finished 1 for 2 with two runs and two RBIs.
The Lady Lancers are scheduled to play at Mt. Vernon Nazarene on Saturday for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
