MARION, Ind. - Grace's baseball team finished up its four-game series against Indiana Wesleyan on Monday afternoon.
The series finale, moved from Saturday due to inclement weather, saw the Wildcats take both games 14-6 and 7-1.
The Lancers struggled to produce much offense in the early going, falling behind 6-1 through four innings.
After IWU added a run in the top half of the fifth, Grace switched it into gear to put up a five-spot to draw within a run 7-6.
The first five hitters of the inning reached base.
Maximo De Leon started with a leadoff walk.
Sean Gannon and
Jeff Pawlik had back-to-back hits with a single and an RBI double to push a run across. Two batters later,
Grant Hartley laced a double to plate two more runs. An RBI groundout and fielder's choice later, the Lancers had cut the deficit to one.
That's as close as the Lancers would get as the Wildcats responded with seven runs over the next four innings to put the game out of reach.
Pawlik had three hits in the game with 2 RBI and a run, and Hartley added a run and 2 RBI.
Seven pitchers toed the rubber for Grace in game one, with
Caleb Davis,
Isaiah Herbster and
Elijah Bruns each recording two strikeouts apiece.
In the nightcap, the Lancers took an early 1-0 lead in the first. De Leon led off with a double to right. He came around to score on a throwing error from Gannon's sacrifice bunt attempt.
The Wildcats tied the game in the second and took to the lead for good in the third.
Grace managed just five baserunners over the final six innings.
Josh Cosme and
Bradyn McIntosh reached base in the second, and
Sam Newkirk and Pawlik reached safely in the third.
Hunter Schumacher started game two and pitched 2.0 innings, allowing one run on two hits with four strikeouts in a no decision.
Sam Justice came on in relief to pitch 4.1 innings with seven strikeouts.
De Leon went 1 for 3 with a run scored. Pawlik, 1 for 2, also reached via a hit by pitch. Cosme added a hit and a walk, and McIntosh recorded a single.
The Lancers will head to Ohio to face off against Mount Vernon on March 10-11 for a four-game series. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 2 p.m.
