WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace's offense erupted for 21 runs in its doubleheader sweep of Marian University on Monday afternoon. The Lancers plated 17 runs to win the opener 17-6 and stout pitching nailed down a 4-3 win to take care of the Knights in the rubber match.

Grace scored early and often in the game one rout, scoring runs in all but one inning. Every hitter that stepped into the batter's box for the Lancers recorded at least one hit. 

The Lancers held an early 4-0 advantage after two innings of play. Maximo De Leon came across to score the first run of the game after reaching on an error and nabbing his 20th stolen base of the season. An inning later, Grace benefited from a couple of Marian miscues to manufacture three more runs.

Marian clawed back a pair of runs in the third, but Grace responded in its half of the inning to extend the lead back to four. Sam Newkirk belted a leadoff homerun and Brady McIntosh added an RBI single to bring home Austin Carr.

Grace added three runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to move ahead 12-2. De Leon and Sean Gannon each doubled to highlight the fourth, which saw De Leon, Keenan LeBlanc, and Newkirk all touch home. In the fifth, two more doubles and a moon-shot from Austin Carr extended the lead.

The Knights put up a crooked number in the sixth to score four runs, but once again the Lancers were up to the task and added a pair of RBI singles to add to the run differential. 

Jeff Pawlik ended the game in walk-off fashion of sorts with a 3-run homer in the bottom of the eighth, which pushed the margin past 10 runs in the late innings.

Hunter Schumacher started on the bump to Grace, but made way for the pitcher of record, Kyle Reinartz, after one scoreless inning. Reinartz pitched 4.1 innings, scattering four hits with 2 strikeouts to earn the victory. 

Caleb Davis pitched the final 2.1 innings to close out the game, with no runs, one hit and three strikeouts. 

De Leon went 5 for 6 in the game with three doubles to his credit. He added a stolen base to his count with swipe number 20 of the season. 

Pawlik belted 3 RBIs to go along with 3 hits. He was instrumental in helping the Lancers manufacture runs with situational hitting and a sacrifice fly.

In the series finale, a pitching duel went to the home team as Isaiah Herbster slammed the door shut in the final inning to preserve the 4-3 win. 

Grace jumped ahead early again, putting up three runs in the opening frame. De Leon and Pawlik reached base safely to start the inning and Cosme brought both of them in with an RBI single. Later in the inning, Newkirk launched his second homer of the day to make it 3-0. 

Both teams traded runs in the fourth to keep the margin at three before heading to the final inning with the Lancers ahead 4-1.

The Knights threatened in the seventh inning. They plated one run and had the tying run in scoring position with one out before head coach Ryan Roth went to the bullpen. Herbster was effective, getting the first batter he faced to pop out and put the exclamation point on the day with a strikeout to end the game. 

Cosme went 1 for 4 with two RBIs in the game; Grant Hartley was 1 for 1 with a walk. 

Steven Hernandez pitched a gem to earn his third win of the season. He scattered three runs and seven hits over 6.0 innings, while striking out four.

By taking both games, the Lancers completed the season-sweep of the Knights and moved into a 3-way tie in sixth place in the league standings. 

Grace will continue its homestand with a pair of doubleheaders against Huntington on Friday and Saturday at Miller Athletic Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. each day.