MARION, Ind. - Two comeback opportunities came up short for Grace's baseball team on Saturday afternoon. The Lancers completed the four-game series with Indiana Wesleyan, falling 11-6 and 9-7.

The Wildcats (7-5, 3-1 CL) jumped out to any early 5-0 after three innings, but Grace (7-8, 1-3 CL) began to chip away at the lead over the next four innings to cut the deficit.

Grant Hartley provided the first two runs for the visitors with one swing of the bat in the fourth. He blasted a long ball to bring home Austin Carr, who walked to start the inning.

IWU extended its lead to six over the next two innings before Grace mounted a comeback in the seventh to get within two.

Grace sent nine batters to the plate as part of a four-run outburst in the top of the seventh inning. Patrick Danforth and Blane Bradford started the rally with a pair of walks. Addison Hickman and Maximo De Leon went back-to back with two doubles to bring home three runs. Sean Gannon capped off the inning with an RBI single.

The Wildcats pushed the lead back up to five in the bottom half to put the game out of reach.

The Lancers managed two base runners in the eight, but couldn't find the run-scoring play to close the gap.

Five different players recorded a hit. Hartley and De Leon produced two RBIs apiece.

Grace's late rally came up short in the series finale. 

IWU recorded four hits as part of a three-run inning to take the early lead after two frames. The teams traded runs in the middle innings with the final runs of the game coming in the top of the sixth.

The Lancers battled back to get within one, 3-2. Hickman earned a walk before De Leon moved him into scoring position with a single. Gannon laced a double to left to bring home both runners.

In the bottom half of the third, the Wildcats plated two runs to extend the lead back to three.

The Lancers swiped two bases in addition to collecting three-straight singles to bring home two runs in the fourth. Hartley scored on an RBI single from Cayden Calloway. Hickman moved him over to second before De Leon added his RBI single. 

Each time Grace cut the deficit, the home team had a response. IWU scored the next four runs to create a 9-4 cushion.

Grace wouldn't go down without a fight. Sean Gannon capped off a 5 RBI day with a three-run blast in the sixth to make it 9-7. But that is where it would end as the Wildcats closed the door.

Maximo De Leon had 4 hits, 2 runs, 1 RBI and 1 stolen base. Gannon went 2 for 4 with five RBIs and a run. 

Grace's next series will be at home on March 8-9 against Mount Vernon Nazarene. The four-game series at Tom  Roy - UPI Park with begin at 12 p.m. each day.