MARION, Ind. - Grace College's softball team dropped two contests against No. 6 Indiana Wesleyan on Monday afternoon.

In the second game of the doubleheader the Lancers nearly pulled off the upset, giving the sixth ranked Wildcats everything they could handle, before ultimately falling 2-1 in the tenth inning.

In the first game the Wildcats jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. The Wildcats scored eight runs through the first four innings while Grace's offense was held in check.

In the fifth inning the Lancers offense got on the board. Annie Spicer got things started with a one-out single and Carly Ruiz followed up by putting a ball in play to put runners on first and second base.

Jeri Ellis picked up her fifth RBI of the season when she singled in Spicer to give Grace its first run of the day. The Lancers were unable to extend the inning any further, and dropped the game 9-1.

The second game proved to be a pitchers' duel, with each team's starting pitcher going the distance in the 10 inning game.

The Lancers immediately threatened in the first inning. Ellis, Ruiz and Tia O'Connor loaded the bases with just one out. However, IWU would record the final two outs without incident holding the game even at 0-0.

Ellis proved dominant in the circle for Grace, muting the Wildcats offense through the first five innings of play.

The Lancers drew first blood in the fourth inning when they once again loaded the bases. Ellis hit a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Avery Sleeth to give Grace a 1-0 lead.

IWU drew even in the bottom of the fifth inning after taking advantage of a lead-off triple.

In the seventh inning the Wildcats got a runner to third base, but Ellis once again proved her worth by inducing a ground ball to cleanly exit the bottom of the seventh and force extra innings.

Both teams picked up hits in the eighth inning, but neither squad could produce the go-ahead run.

In the bottom of the ninth IWU seemed poised to finally secure the game, but the opportunity was promptly ended as Montana Brincks and Laikyn Lowe ended the inning with a double play.

With the international tie-breaker in effect in the 10th inning the game would finally reach its conclusion. 

In the home half of the 10th inning IWU would load the bases with just one out. Grace would momentarily survive as the Lancers got a force out at home for the second out of the inning.

However the Wildcats next hitter snuck a ground ball through the infield to bring the marathon affair to an end with IWU on top 2-1.

Ellis threw 110 pitches from the circle in game two and surrendered just two runs. In addition to her stellar pitching performance, Ellis also drove in two runs on the afternoon.

O'Connor was a steady source of offense for Grace, picking up three hits in five at-bats. Bella Durnan also had a multi hit game, picking up two base hits.

Grace will be back in action again on Tuesday as they travel to Taylor to take on the Trojans.