WINONA LAKE, Ind. – Saturday's doubleheader between Grace's softball team and Spring Arbor was filled with drama.
The teams combined to score 41 runs on 62 hits across a mild afternoon at Coach Phil Dick Field.
At the end of the day, the teams split the doubleheader; the Cougars won the opener 14-13, but Grace had the last say with an 8-6 victory in game two.
Grace fell into an impossible hole in the first game and nearly pulled off a miraculous comeback.
SAU managed to generate four runs over the first two innings, putting the Lady Lancers into an early deficit.
Grace continued to struggle over the early innings, eventually falling behind 11-1 in the fifth inning. The Lady Lancers were in danger of losing early via the run rule, but Grace's bats were just warming up.
Grace picked up two runs immediately in the bottom of the fifth when Jeri Ellis singled and Jaden Cardoso launched her first career home run over the left field fence.
Jessica Kaurich followed that up with a double, and she came home to score on a single by Carly Ruiz. That run allowed the game to continue.
SAU tacked on another run in the top of the sixth, which activated the run rule again. But Grace made good on its chance to counter in the bottom of the inning.
Grace's first seven batters of the inning reached base safely. Ellis had a two-run single, and Britney Young and Ruiz also had run-scoring singles.
With two outs in the inning, Olivia Hess doubled (her second hit of the inning) to drive in two more runs and slice the lead down to 12-10.
SAU continued to score at will and scored two to lead 14-10.
Grace was undaunted in the bottom of the seventh. Ellis led off the inning with a single and later scored off a double by Britney Young.
Two batters later, Laikyn Lowe almost tied the score. With two runners on base, Lowe nearly homered. Her deep fly ball was just short of the fence, but the double still scored two and pulled Grace to within one at 14-13. But the final batter of the day struck out for Grace to finish the game.
Altogether Grace outhit SAU 20-17 in the opener. Ellis, Cardoso, Kaurich, Young and Hess each had three hits, and Ruiz notched two hits. Ellis and Kaurich plated three times as well.
In the second game, Grace took the lead early and held on late. The Lady Lancers scored three runs in the bottom of the first thanks to RBIs from Young, Ruiz and Lowe.
Grace scored two more in the third, but SAU rallied to tie the score 5-5 in the top of the sixth.
In the bottom of the sixth, Grace plated three times for the go-ahead runs. Ellis broke the tie with an RBI single, and Young had a two-out, two-run double for what turned out to be important insurance runs.
The Cougars managed to score one time in the top of the seventh, but Grace held on for the two-run win.
Ellis hit 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI, and she also won the game from the mound. She pitched a complete game to register the victory.
Young hit 3 for 4 with three RBIs, and Kaurich was 3 of 4 with two runs scored. Cardoso plated twice, Ruiz was 2 for 4 with two RBIs, and Bethany Gardner finished 2 for 3.
The Lady Lancers will travel to Ohio on Monday for a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Lourdes. Grace is back home on Saturday for a 1 p.m. doubleheader against Bethel.
