SPRING ARBOR, Mich. - Grace's baseball team began its series against Spring Arbor on Thursday afternoon. The Cougars squeaked out a 3-2 victory before winning 21-5 to close out the twinbill. The highlight of the day went to senior Sam Newkirk, who broke the all-time career doubles mark (36) set by Nate Wottring in 2012.

In the opener, the Lancers (13-16 ,5-13 CL) scored a pair of runs in the seventh inning to put the Cougars (14-11, 9-11 CL) under pressure late in the game. 

Grace trailed by three runs after six innings, having recorded two hits and seven total baserunners up to that point.

The Lancers manufactured two runs in the seventh to draw within a run. Bradyn McIntosh reached via walk and advanced to third on a John Joyce single. Maximo De Leon flied out to right, registering an RBI on the sacrifice fly. The next run scored when Josh Cosme singled to bring home Joyce.

The Lancer pitching staff held the Cougars scoreless from the fifth inning on. Mason Murphy pitched 4.0 innings in his start on the mound. Steven Hernandez came in to pitch the final 4.0 innings, allowing no runs and one hit with four strikeouts. 

Grace looked to level the score in its final at-bat of the game. After back-to-back singles from De Leon and Jeff Pawlik, the Lancers had the tying run 90 feet away with 2 outs. The Cougars, however, were able to hang on and close out the game, with a narrow 3-2 margin. 

Pawlik reached base four times with 2 hits and 2 walks. Cosme added two hits as well with an RBI and a walk. 

The second game of the day started out with three runs in the first for the visitors, but the Cougars responded and turned the game upside down to take a commanding lead.

De Leon led off the game with a triple and Pawlik followed with a sacrifice fly to put the first run on the board. With two outs, Cosme scored on a Sean Gannon RBI single and Austin Carr later scored on a wild pitch.

The Lancer bats were held in check until two more runs scored in the fifth. Pawlik's double moved De Leon into scoring position and he scored on the RBI groundout from Cosme. Newkirk, who tied the doubles record in game one, drove in a run with his second double of the afternoon. He pushed his career total to 37 doubles, becoming the all-time leader.

Despite the two runs late from the Lancers, the Cougars were well in control of the game and closed things out for a 21-5 final scoreline. 

The Lancers will be back home at Miller Athletic Complex to finish their series against Marian on April 10 at 1 p.m.