MOUNT VERNON, Ohio - Grace's softball team was unable to come away with a victory in a pair of contests in Ohio.

Grace dropped both games of the doubleheader to Mt. Vernon by scores of 5-3 and 8-6.

It didn't take the Cougars long to break the ice in the opener of Monday's doubleheader as they drove in two runs in the first inning.

Grace's offense was held to just a pair of walks through two innings before striking back in the third frame.

Kaitlyn Seagrave had a one-out single and moved herself into scoring position with a stolen base. Jeri Ellis then had a clutch two-out double that scored Seagrave then Ellis scored herself after an RBI from Cassie Hayes.

MVNU momentarily recaptured the lead in the bottom of the frame, but the Lancers answered back in the fourth inning.

Halle Nett got on board and then the Lancers again relied on two-out hitting as Montana Brincks and Seagrave had back-to-back singles that brought Nett around to score and tie the game at three.

The Cougars ultimately captured the lead for the final time in the fifth inning with two more runs. Duran and Hayes each reached base in the seventh inning but the Lancers were unable to bring them home as they dropped game one 5-3.

Ellis had two hits and an RBI and Kiersten Fickas pitched a perfect sixth inning with two strikeouts.

In game two it was Grace who jumped out to the early advantage.

Duran had a lead off double and Ellis was hit by a pitch. The Lancers loaded the bases after Hayes had a singled that advanced the runners.

Tia O'Connor had an RBI single and Madison Gainey made Grace's lead 2-0 with a walk that forced Ellis home.

The Cougars managed to escape the inning without further damage and cut the lead in half with a run in the home half of the first.

Grace started the second inning in a similar fashion as the first when Duran singled and Ellis was struck by a pitch in her second consecutive at bat.

Hayes grounded out but managed to advance both runners by a base and Duran then took advantage of a passed ball to establish the Lancers' lead at two runs.

Chloe Huff sent the Cougars down in order in the second which allowed the hot Grace bats another turn at the plate.

For a third straight inning the Lancers' leadoff hitter got on board as Gainey earned a walk. Gainey came around to score thanks to an RBI triple from Seagrave.

Grace's margin reached four runs when Seagrave scored after taking advantage of a defensive miscue from the Cougars to make the lead 5-1 in Grace's favor.

Neither side produced offense in the fourth inning, but the Cougars came alive in the bottom of the fifth.

MVNU scored five runs in the inning, including four runs with two outs. The Cougars added two more runs in the sixth to make their lead 8-5.

Bree Gardinier had an RBI double for Grace in the seventh inning but the Lancers would get no closer as they fell 8-6.

Seagrave and Duran each had multiple hits in the contest and Bergam pitched a clean sixth inning.

Grace will be back in action tomorrow at Taylor.