WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace College's softball team started a six-game home stand by splitting a Monday afternoon doubleheader against Huntington.

Grace (5-14, 4-10 Crossroads League) took the opening game 2-1, in a pitchers duel as Jeri Ellis outdueled the Forester's pitcher. Huntington (11-14, 6-8 CL) bounced back in the second game with a 9-1 victory.

In the first inning the Foresters stranded a pair after Tia O'Connor made a great play on a ground ball for the 5-3 putout to end the inning.

In the leadoff spot for the Lancers, Taylor Hodgen reached third base after her line drive to right field was displayed by Huntington's defense. Ellis pushed Hodgen across for the game's first run with a sacrifice hit.

Ellis continued her recent stretch of dominant pitching from the circle as Huntington's offense was held silent through the opening innings.

Laikyn Lowe doubled deep to left-center field to start the home-half of the third, but a pair of strikeouts left Lowe stuck on second base.

In the fourth inning Huntington got a runner to third after a leadoff single, but once again the door was slammed shut by Ellis.

In the fifth inning the Foresters finally broke through with a two-out RBI to tie the game at one apiece.

Brenna Elgin got onboard with a single to leadoff the sixth inning. Elgin advanced to third and eventually came home after Carly Ruiz picked up the go-ahead RBI.

Ellis sent Huntington down in order to close out the game and pick up her fourth win of the season. This is the sixth time this season that Ellis has allowed two or fewer runs.

In game two, Huntington set an early tone for the game by jumping out to an early 2-0 lead.

The Foresters added three runs in the second, one in the fourth and two more in the fifth to take a commanding 8-0 lead.

Kali Kahalekomo earned a walk after starting the fifth inning as a pinch hitter.

Grace Swangin reached on a fielder's choice and came around to score after taking advantage of an error and a wild pitch from the Foresters.

Huntington added another score in the fifth inning and Grace was unable to produce the needed runs to extend the game, dropping the tail end of the double-header 9-1.

Grace will be back in action tomorrow at 3 p.m. for a home doubleheader against Mt. Vernon. It will be the second of three home double headers this week.