HOOVER, Ala. - Grace's baseball team won the final two games of a four-game series against Aquinas over the weekend.

The series ended Grace's weeklong stay in Alabama, kicking off the season with a 5-3 record. Grace lost Friday's twin bill 9-6 and 13-3 before picking up a pair of wins on Saturday in very differing fashions (17-0, 8-6).

During Friday's opener, Grace let an early lead slip away. The Saints struck late to grab the opening win 9-6.

Grace earned an early advantage by scoring five runs in the first two innings.

Jeff Pawlik and Sam Newkirk doubled to score a run. Alex Rich and Cal Curiel followed that up with consecutive RBIs as Grace led 3-0 after one inning.

In the second inning, Grace had three straight doubles from Patrick Danforth, Pawlik and Austin Carr, putting the Lancers ahead 5-0.

Grace's lead held until the fourth inning. The Saints used two singles and a Grace error to plate twice. In the fifth, Aquinas scored seven more runs off the back of a few more errors by the Lancers.

Grace loaded the bases with nobody out to begin the bottom of the fifth. But a double play limited Grace to one run in the frame. The Lancers were unable to score again, falling 9-6.

Evan Etchison made the start from the mound, tossing five innings and striking out five with two earned runs allowed.

Caleb Farney was the most effective relief pitcher, striking out two of the three batters he faced. Pawlik hit 3 for 4 with two runs and a run driven in.

Aquinas jumped ahead in the second game, plating three runs in the top of the first.

Grace scored twice in the third to battle back. Danforth had an RBI triple, and he later came home to score on a ground ball.

The Lancers tied the score with a run in the fourth, but Aquinas ripped off a four-run sixth to seize a 7-3 lead.

The Saints had plenty of offense remaining, however. Aquinas poured in six more runs across the seventh and eighth innings. Grace was unable to counter and fell 13-3.

Aquinas only needed 12 hits to score 13 runs; Grace had eight hits for its three runs. Danforth and Newkirk were each 2 for 4.

Jake Decker made the start, striking out six in five innings with four runs allowed.

In Saturday's opener, Kameron Koch was sensational from the mound during Grace's 17-0 win. Koch went the distance, pitching a seven-inning, complete game shutout. He allowed four scattered hits with two walks and struck out eight.

At the plate, Grace racked up 16 hits, including five extra-base hits. Danforth was a perfect 4 for 4 with four runs and a stolen base from the leadoff position.

Chris Griffin erupted with 3 hits, 3 runs and 6 RBIs; he had a three-run triple and a two-run home run.

Pawlik had a 3 for 5 day with four runs scored and a double, Carr added 2 hits, 2 runs and 2 RBIs, and Curiel hit 3 for 4. Rich also drove in three runs, and Jake Cox plated twice.

The series ended on a high note for Grace. Aquinas led 6-4 after seven innings, but the Lancers had a rally ready.

The Lancers cut the deficit in half thanks to an RBI single by Cox in the eighth.

Trailing by one run in the ninth, Pawlik led off the inning with a walk. The next two batters were retired, however, putting Grace's rally in jeopardy.

But Griffin kept Grace's hopes alive with a double, and Rich produced a two-out, two-run triple to put the Lancers on top.

Curiel followed that up with another triple to hand Grace an 8-6 lead.

Kyle Aten took care of the rest in the bottom of the ninth. The pitcher shut down the Saints in the final at-bats to record the win. Aten pitched the final 4.2 innings, racking up eight strikeouts and allowing two hits and one run.

Curiel hit 3 for 5 with three runs scored, and Cox was 3 for 3 with a pair of runs driven in. Danforth recorded a hit, a walk and a hit by pitch, and Newkirk plated twice.

The Lancers' next series will be Feb. 18-19 in White Pine, Tenn., against St. Xavier.