WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace's baseball team opened up a four-game series with Spring Arbor on Friday afternoon, dropping a pair 16-5 and 14-3.

The Lancers were within striking distance through most of the opener, but the Cougars added eight runs over the final two innings put the game out of reach.

SAU put the first two runs on the board in the second before the Lancers cut the deficit in the bottom half of the same inning.

Sean Gannon led off the inning with a double and his courtesy runner later scored on a sac fly off the bat of Cayden Calloway.

The Cougars extended the lead with two runs in the third and four more in the fifth frame.

Grace looked to start a rally, cutting the margin to three, 8-5. A three-run sixth inning closed the gap.

Addison Hickman earned a hit by pitch and Pat Danforth followed with a single. Austin Carr provided the power with a three-run blast over the fence in left.

That was as close as the home team would get as the Cougars scored eight unanswered runs to end the game with a 16-5 scoreline.

Calloway went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a run. Gannon added a 2 for 4 game. Carr contributed three RBIs and three walks.

The nightcap went to the Cougars 14-3, aided by a lopsided fifth inning to seize control.

The Lancers were within two runs after four innings of play.

Calloway grabbed a leadoff walk in the second. He picked up a stolen base and later scored on an RBI groundout from Addison Hickman.

The fifth inning is where the game changed. The Cougars sent 15 batters to the plate as part of a ten-run inning to break the game open.

Grace continued to battle despite the deficit. Two doubles in the bottom half of the fifth manufactured a run. An inning later, the home team was patient at the plate, stringing together four walks to plate another run.

Matt Friesema led the way with 2 hits, 1 RBI, 1 run and 1 walk. Four others recorded a hit.

The series will resume on Saturday with another doubleheader at Tom  Roy - UPI Park. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.