PULASKI, Tenn. - Grace's baseball team picked up a series win on Saturday afternoon, sweeping the final two games of the four-game series against UT Southern.
The Lancers (4-3) used a three run inning to come from behind and take the first game of the day 5-4. In the nightcap, Grace never trailed in its 5-3 triumph.
Grace opened the scoring in an unconventional way in its first at-bat.
Austin Carr got caught in a rundown attempting to steal second;
Gavin Kelley alertly raced home from third before the tag was applied to Carr.
The Firehawks (3-7) quickly erased the deficit in the bottom half of the inning with a two-run blast to push ahead by one.
Grace leveled the score in the third inning when Carr produced a sacrifice fly, bringing
Cayden Calloway in to score.
The Lancers took the lead for good an inning later with three runs, all with two outs, to take a 5-2 advantage.
Patrick Danforth and Calloway started off the inning with back-to-back singles. Later
Maximo De Leon smacked a single to left to bring home one run. For the second time in the game, Kelley broke for home on the stolen base attempt from De Leon to score the second run. Carr finished off the rally with a double, plating De Leon.
UT Southern made things interesting down the stretch, scoring a run in each of the final two innings. The home team scored on a sacrifice fly to get within one in the seventh. With two outs and the tying run at third, the Lancers intentionally walked a batter, setting up a force play. Closer
Kyle Showley induced a game-ending ground ball to second to secure the win.
Sam Justice (1-0) earned the victory for the visitors after going 4.2 innings on the mound. The sophomore settled in nicely after allowing two runs in the first, fanning five on the day.
Kyle Showley earned his first collegiate save, collecting one strikeout in 1.1 innings of relief.
Carr racked up two RBIs on two hits; Calloway went 2 for 4 with two runs.
De Leon picked up his third stolen base of the year and had one RBI and one run.
In the series finale, Grace got off to a fast start, scoring two runs via the long ball in the top of the first. Carr belted a two-run drive to left, his second of the year.
UT Southern battled right back, scoring two runs in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at two.
Grace took advantage of two walks in the fourth inning. Hickman and
Bradyn McIntosh each earned a free pass and collected stolen bases to get into scoring position. De Leon came up clutch with a single through the right side to clear the bases and break the deadlock.
An insurance run was tacked on in the fifth to move Grace ahead by three runs. Addison Pettit singled up the middle to bring
Matt Friesema around to score, his second run of the game.
The Firehawks looked to start a two-out rally in the fifth after a bases-loaded walk brought home a run. But reliever
Joey Springer was able to close the door, getting a ground out to end the threat.
UT Southern had the tying run at the plate in the final two innings, but were unable to find a way to push a run across. Both times, Springer was able to get the necessary outs to keep the lead intact.
The starter,
Mason Meyer (1-0), pitched well, going 4.2 innings before giving way to the bullpen. He allowed two earned runs while fanning five. Springer pitched the final 2.1 innings to record the save. The two combined to allow only two hits.
Friesema went 2 for 3 and scored two runs. Meanwhile, Carr tallied two RBIs with two hits.
The Lancers will be back in Indiana to battle IU Columbus at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind., on Feb 20. The doubleheader is scheduled to get underway at 1 p.m.
