WINONA LAKE, Ind. - The conference season is just getting underway for Grace's baseball team, but the highlight of the season so far was a fantastic pitching performance from Evan Etchison to upset No. 14 Indiana Wesleyan on Friday afternoon.

The senior tossed a complete-game shutout in game two to knock off the Wildcats 2-0.

The first game of the day, however, featured four home runs with the visitors coming out on top of the back-and-forth affair 7-5.

Indiana Wesleyan (5-5, 1-1 CL) struck first by manufacturing a run in the second inning. The lead was short-lived as the Lancers (7-6, 1-1 CL) used the long ball to get ahead in the bottom of the same inning.

Bradyn McIntosh earned a lead-off hit by pitch which was followed by a one-out blast to left by Addison Hickman to push the home team ahead by one run.

The next inning, IWU tied the game with a long ball of its own. They threatened two more hits in the inning, but were unable to plate another run.

Grace regained the lead with another home run in the bottom half. Sean Gannon continued his hot start with a single. Two batters later, Matt Friesema belted the second two-run shot of the game to put his team ahead by two.

The Wildcats responded a couple innings later with a three-run outburst on one swing of the bat to retake the lead 5-4.

The Lancers once again had an answer, tying the game in the sixth on a throwing error. Addison Hickman hit a single and moved into scoring position after a walk. He proceeded to steal third, but an errant throw allowed him to scamper home to knot the score at five.

The final two runs of the game came in the seventh. IWU managed to score the go-ahead runs after a walk, a double and a single to create separation. 

Grace was held scoreless over the final two innings despite having four runners reach base in that span.

Mason Meyer went six innings on the mound in a no-decision. He picked up four strikeouts before turning it over to the bullpen.

Sam Justice pitched the final 2.2 innings, allowing one hit with two strikeouts.

Three Lancers recorded multi-hit games with Gannon, Hickman and Ryan Stark at two hits apiece. Hickman and Matt Friesema went deep and recorded two RBIs each.

In the nightcap, Evan Etchison pitched a gem, leading the Lancers to an upset of the 14th-ranked Wildcats 2-0. He went the distance to cap off a complete-game shutout to move to 3-0 on the season.

At the end of the game, there were a lot of zeros on the scoreboard. Most importantly, the guest line was all zeros.

The first inning from Etchison set the tone for the game. He forced three weakly hit balls in the infield to retire the side.

In the bottom half of the opening frame, Grace got all of the offense it would need. Patrick Danforth singled to start the inning. Later with two outs, Austin Carr hit a no-doubter to left field, scoring two runs.

A common theme in the game was for Etchison to get the final out of the inning via strikeout. He accomplished this feat in four different innings to thwart any opportunity for the Wildcats to score.

Grace's offense was held in check after a pair of hits in the first inning. Only four batters reached base over the next five innings. 

In the final inning, IWU had two batters reach safely after Etchison fanned the first batter of the inning. After a mound visit, he bared down to induce a 6-4-3 double play to end the game in dramatic fashion. 

Etchison picked up win number 12 of his career to move into a tie for fourth place all-time. He scattered six hits over seven innings, collecting eight strikeouts on the day.

Maximo De Leon swiped another stolen base, moving his season total to five. Carr collected two RBIs with his third homer of the season.

The Lancers will head to Indiana Wesleyan to continue the four-game series with the Wildcats on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.