WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace College's softball team picked up its first Crossroads League win of the season in Thursday's home opener against Spring Arbor.

The Lancers (2-7) took the first game of the double-header 6-2, before dropping game two 13-2.

Grace boasted stellar defensive play, holding Spring Arbor (7-1) scoreless in six of the seven innings.

The Lancers drew first blood in the fourth inning. Grace scored four runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning to give them the first lead of the afternoon.

The Cougars responded with a pair of runs in the fifth, but Grace matched that total in the home portion of the inning to reestablish the four-run lead.  

Grace held Spring Arbor scoreless over the final six outs to capture the 6-2 win. Jeri Ellis picked up the win.

In the second game the Lancers once again struck first.

Ellis hit a leadoff single and Cassie Hayes blasted a homerun over the right field fence to push Grace ahead 2-0 after the first inning.

Grace's offense went quiet in the middle innings managing one hit, while the Cougars used a pair of three run innings to take a 6-2 lead into the sixth.

Spring Arbor used a two-out rally to score seven runs in the top of the sixth inning to grab a commanding 13-2 lead.

The Lancers couldn't find the offense to match the Cougars output in their final at bats, ultimately falling 13-2.

Ellis recorded three hits on the afternoon, and Montana Brincks added two more RBI's to her team leading total.

Grace will be back in action on Monday, for a rescheduled double-header against No. 2 Indiana Wesleyan.