WINONA LAKE, Ind.  – Grace's softball team produced a split in its doubleheader against Spring Arbor on Senior Day.

The Lady Lancers (12-27, 9-19 Crossroads League) and Cougars played a pair of low-scoring outings with Grace winning the opener 2-1 and losing the second 3-1. 

The first game quickly settled into a defensive battle. Jeri Ellis pitched her way around SAU's bats, blanking the Cougars for the first five innings.

Grace wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. Bethany Gardner led off the first inning with a walk, and she eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Cassandra Hayes.

The Lady Lancers had chances to score again, but the score remained 1-0 through five innings.

SAU generated the game-tying run in the top of the sixth. The Cougars (14-25, 8-20 CL) used a double, bunt and a single to push a run across and even the game at 1-1.

But the Lady Lancers had an immediate response in the bottom of the sixth. Hayes drove a double to right-center field, and Emily Revercomb entered to pinch run.

A wild pitch moved Revercomb to third base, and a ground ball by Kendra Arnold allowed Revercomb to cross home plate for the go-ahead run.

Ellis took care of SAU in the top of the seventh to secure the victory. Ellis earned the complete-game victory, allowing just five hits and one run. She walked one and struck out four in an impressive performance.

Tia O'Connor had Grace's best bat, hitting 2 for 2 with a hit by pitch as well.

The Cougars took their first lead of the day in the first inning of game two. SAU used a bunt and two singles to generate the first run of the contest.

SAU doubled its lead with another run in the third, and Grace responded with a run in the fourth.

Tia O'Connor singled and moved to second with a bunt. Bree Gardinier then produced a two-out single to bring in O'Connor and make the score 2-1.

The Cougars added an insurance run in the sixth with a sacrifice fly to go ahead by two runs.

Grace was unable to produce a baserunner across the final two innings and had to settle for the 3-1 defeat.

Kierstin Fickas threw the complete game and yielded seven hits and three runs; she struck out six batters over her seven innings.

O'Connor hit 1 for 3 with a run scored, and Gardinier was 1 for 3 with an RBI.

The Lady Lancers will head to Ohio tomorrow for a doubleheader at Mt. Vernon Nazarene at 1 p.m.