BRIGHTON, Mich. - Grace's softball team registered a win on the opening day of the 2022 season.

The Lady Lancers split an early morning doubleheader, losing 11-0 to Concordia and beating Cleary 5-4 in extra innings.

It also marked the first career wins for Grace's co-head coaches Bo Coolen and Sam Coolen. The games were played in a dome in Brighton, Mich.

Grace struggled to slow down Concordia in the season opener. The Cardinals led 4-0 after two innings, and Concordia ended the game early with a seven-run outburst in the fourth.

Carly Ruiz registered two of Grace's three hits. Jeri Ellis doubled, and Lauren Byrer stole a base on offense.

Grace pulled out the late-game heroics to beat Cleary.

In the opening inning, Jeri Ellis was hit by a pitch; she soon scored thanks to a two-out double by Cassandra Hayes. On the next at-bat, Bree Gardinier singled to drive in Hayes.

But the Cougars struck back with a four-run third to gain the lead.

Grace countered with another two-out rally in the fourth. Kendra Arnold led off the inning with a double. After the next two batters were retired, Bethany Gardner hit an RBI single. Ellis followed that up with an RBI single of her own to tie the score at 4-4.

Neither team could score for the next three innings to send the game to extra innings. Ellis impressed from the mound and did not allow a baserunner over the fifth, sixth and seventh frames.

In the eighth inning, Ellis blanked Cleary again to give Grace a chance for a walkoff. The Lady Lancers made good on that chance.

Annie Spicer singled to right field, allowing Taylor Hodgen to race home for the winning run.

Ellis pitched the complete game; she struck out six batters in eight innings, yielding two earned runs with one walk. She also hit 1 for 2 with 1 run, 1 RBI and 2 hit by pitches.

Hayes hit 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI, and Gardner also drove in a run and scored.

The Lady Lancers' next games will be Feb. 18-19 with a four-game series at Tennessee-Southern.