WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace College's softball team closed out the 2024 season with a doubleheader series against Mt. Vernon on Saturday afternoon.

The Lancers (16-28, 12-24 Crossroads League) were unable to come away with a victory in the season finale, dropping the contests 6-2 and 2-0.

Saturday was also senior day for Grace as they honored graduating players Kyrah Lewis, Cassie Hayes, Jeri Ellis, Alyssa Swangin, Kiersten Fickas and Alexis Bergman.

In game one, the Cougars (29-19, 22-14 CL) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the opening frame.

In the bottom of the second inning Cassie Hayes got Grace started with a leadoff double. Tia O'Connor also had a single for the Lancers which put runners on the corners with one out.

Montana Brincks took advantage of the scoring opportunity with an RBI single that cut the deficit in half.

After playing through a scoreless third, the Cougars added two-more runs to their total to push the advantage to 4-1.

Grace threatened in the fifth stanza as Kaitlyn Seagrave, Bela Duran and Halle Nett loaded the bases with just one out. Mt. Vernon survived the scare unscathed however, recording the final two outs with surrendering a run.

In the sixth inning Grace again had early offense with runners on first and second with one out, but a pair of strikeouts ended the Lancers' threat.

In the home half of the seventh inning Bela Duran crossed the plate for Grace to pull the Lancers within 6-2, but they couldn't get any closer, dropping the opener of the double header.

The highlight of the game for Grace came in the seventh inning. After retiring the first batter of the seventh inning, Jeri Ellis was subbed out of the pitcher's circle for the final time of her career, exiting the field to a standing ovation.

Ellis finishes her career tied for eighth with in wins (21) and sixth in strikeouts (218). Ellis also excelled at the plate in her career, ranking seventh in runs (89), eighth in hits (188), tied for fourth in doubles (35) and eighth in RBIs 72.

In game two senior Alexis Bergman got the start for Grace and went toe-to-toe with the Cougars' pitchers in a defensive showcase.

The game was scoreless through five innings of play before the Cougars finally managed to cross a pair of runs to edge ahead 2-0. The two runs scored in the sixth inning proved to be the only runs of the game as Mt. Vernon held on for the game two win.

Grace closed out the season with the most single season wins and most single season  conference wins since the 2017 season.