WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace's baseball team finished up the home portion of the regular season with a pair against St. Francis on Saturday afternoon, falling 9-5 and 7-0.

The Lancers were in a back and forth battle for most of the opener before stumbling late. A game that featured 14 runs and 23 hits, was tied 5-5 through seven innings. 

USF jumped out to a 4-0 early in the game before Grace equalized in the home half of the second with four runs.

The first three batters reached to load the bases. Grant Rojek delivered two runs with a bloop single over the second baseman to cut the deficit in half. Maximo De Leon nearly beat out the throw on his bunt, but was able to drive in a run in the process. Matt Friesema followed with an RBI single to cap off the rally.

The game remained tied until the Lancers edged ahead with a run in the fifth. Friesema singled with one out and later scored on a wild pitch to give the home team a 5-4 advantage.

The home team held the one run margin into the seventh before USF tied it in the seventh and took the lead for good the next inning. The Cougars tacked on three insurance runs in the top of the ninth to extend the lead.

Grace's best chance to score came in the eighth while they were trailing by one. Two walks and a single loaded the bases with two outs, but the decisive play didn't come and the side was retired.

After scoring the insurance runs, the Cougars closed the door for the 9-5 victory.

Four different players recorded two hits. Cayden Calloway reached base four times with 2 hits, 2 walks and 1 run.

The nightcap was close through five innings, but four runs in the sixth from the Cougars put the game out of reach. 

USF scored two in the first and one in the second to take a 3-0 lead. The scoreline remained the same over the next three innings.

Grace's bats cooled off after 10 hits in game one. The home team was limited to just one hit and one walk over the seven innings. 

The Lancer pitching staff combined for eight strikeouts in the game, Mason Meyer with six and Kyle Showley with two. 

Rojek recorded the lone hit and Friesema added the walk. 

Saturday was Grace's Senior Day, which honored Austin Carr and Patrick Danforth between games.

Grace will head into the final series of the regular season with an eye toward the postseason. They currently have a one game lead over Goshen for the final spot in the conference tournament field. 

The Lancers kick off the penultimate four-game series on the road at Bethel next week.

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