WINONA LAKE, Ind. - A pair of tightly contested battles went against Grace's softball team on Friday.

Huntington edged out the Lancers 5-1 and 2-0 in two defensive games at Coach Phil Dick Field.

In the opening game, both teams finished the game with exactly five hits.

Huntington struck first when their leadoff hitter began the game with a walk and scored on a two-out single.

The 1-0 lead remained for most of the game, stretching all the way into the sixth inning.

In the bottom of the sixth, Grace evened the score. Jeri Ellis led off the inning with a single and was sacrificed to second base.

Tia O'Connor then laid down a well-executed bunt single to apply pressure on the Foresters. Maddie Gainey brought in the game-tying run with a sacrifice fly ball.

The Foresters had the final say, however. HU managed to push across four runs in the top of the seventh, benefitting from a pair of walks and two singles to open up a 5-1 cushion.

Grace was unable to respond in its final at-bats as Huntington claimed the opener.

O'Connor finished the game hitting 2 for 3. Ellis pitched all seven innings, striking out six batters, while also hitting 1 for 3.

In the second game, Grace's bats were largely quiet. The Lancers were muted to two hits, including another from Ellis and one from Halle Nett.

Alexis Bergman tossed a gem from the circle to keep Grace in striking distance. Bergman allowed just two runs (one unearned) in a complete-game effort.

The Foresters manufactured a single run in the first and sixth frames, which proved to be enough on Friday.

Grace had baserunners in each of the first three innings but could not push across a run. The Lancers went 1-2-3 across each of the final four frames.

The Lancers end the week with a doubleheader at Goshen on Saturday. The regular season ends next week for Grace, culminating with the team's home finale on April 27 against Mt. Vernon Nazarene.