FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Grace College ended its series with St. Francis with a split on Saturday.
The Lancers claimed the opener 10-8 and fell 14-4 in the series finale.
Grace began game one well. The Lancers jumped ahead with a 7-0 lead after two innings.
In the first inning, Grace took advantage of a few USF errors to plate three runs.
Patrick Danforth drove in Grace's fourth run with a single in the second inning. Three batters later, Lucas Slager launched a three-run home run to give Grace a seven-run lead.
The Cougars (24-19, 13-15 Crossroads League) did their best to climb back into contention. USF plated four runs in the third, a single run in the sixth and two more in the eighth.
Slager added an RBI single in the fourth. The Lancers held a slight 8-7 lead as the game entered the final frame.
In the top of the ninth, Slager led off with a single. Sam Newkirk drove him home with a double. With two outs in the inning, Cal Curiel drove in Newkirk to give Grace a three-run lead.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Cougars threatened. USF scored a run and had two runners on base with one out.
But the Lancers ended the game with a strikeout and groundout to secure the 10-8 victory.
Mason Meyer earned the win, throwing three innings of relief and allowing one run with four strikeouts.
Hunter Schumacher tossed 1.2 scoreless innings, and Caleb Farney registered the save by tossing the final two innings. Farney allowed one unearned run and struck out two.
Slager hit 3 for 3 with two runs and three RBIs, and Danforth had 3 hits, 2 runs, 1 steal and 1 RBI.
Chris Griffin finished 2 for 3 with two runs and two walks, and Curiel had 2 hits, 1 steal, 1 run and 1 RBI.
In game two, it was USF's turn to take an early lead. The Cougars erupted for eight runs in the second inning and five more in the third.
Grace did score one in the first inning, two in the third and another in the fifth.
The top of the first saw Danforth single and eventually score on a ground ball by Slager.
In the third inning, Josh Cosme had a two-out, two-run single to plate Austin Carr and Newkirk. Carr drove in Grace's fourth run during the fifth inning.
The damage had already been done, however, as USF earned the 14-4 victory to split the doubleheader.
Kyle Reinartz was Grace's most effective pitcher, throwing three scoreless innings of relief with four strikeouts. Jake Cox also pitched a clean inning from the mound.
Danforth hit 2 for 4 with a double. Griffin, Alex Rich and Carr also doubled.
The Lancers begin next week by concluding their series with Marian in Indianapolis; the two sides split a doubleheader on April 9. Monday's doubleheader will begin at 1 p.m.
Grace will return home to conclude the week against Mt. Vernon Nazarene. Friday's doubleheader will start at 2 p.m., and Saturday's games will begin at 1 p.m.
