WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace's softball team lost a pair of close games against No. 16 Marian on Tuesday.
The Lady Lancers were within range in both games but fell short 4-1 and 6-3 at Coach Phil Dick Field.
The first game was decided in the top of the first inning. Marian scored nearly all of the game's runs in the first, taking a 4-0 lead.
The Knights had five of their eight hits in the game during the opening frame.
Grace was largely quiet at the plate as Marian's pitching held the Lady Lancers in check.
In the sixth, Cassandra Hayes doubled but could not plate a run.
In the seventh, Tia O'Connor led off the inning with a pinch-hit single. Jeri Ellis later drove in Grace's first run with a sacrifice fly, but the Lady Lancers could not score again and fell 4-1.
Ellis pitched the complete game and also hit 1 for 2 with a walk and an RBI, and Ashley Beckler was 1 for 2 with a run scored.
The Lady Lancers had no trouble scoring early in the second game. But another big inning from the Knights undid Grace's efforts.
Grace scored a run in each of the first three innings. In the first inning, Ellis led off with a single and later scored on a ground ball from Hayes.
The Lady Lancers doubled their lead to 2-0 in the second inning thanks to doubles by Kendra Arnold and Izabela Duran.
The Knights (20-5, 10-4 Crossroads League) used a solo home run in the third to get on the scoreboard, but Hayes countered with a homer of her own in the bottom half to hand Grace a 3-1 lead.
In the top of the fourth, the Knights earned three walks to set the stage for a big inning. Marian then launched a grand slam over the left field fence to take the lead for good.
Grace put a baserunner in scoring position in the sixth and seventh innings, but the Lady Lancers were unable to make a dent in the Knight's cushion and ultimately lost 6-3.
Kierstin Fickas earned the start, throwing 6.2 innings and allowing three runs with nine strikeouts.
Hayes batted 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a run scored, and Arnold hit 2 for 3.
The Lady Lancers will head to Bethel this weekend for a doubleheader scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m. Next week, Grace will play at home on four days, including Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.
