HOOVER, Ala. - Grace's baseball team scored early and often in both games of the series finale against Defiance, winning 8-5 and 17-8 on Friday afternoon. In two games, the Lancers collected 33 hits and scored 25 runs.

Grace (3-4) opened up game one with situational execution to plate the first runs of the day. Maximo De Leon led off the day with a double. A sacrifice bunt followed by a sacrifice fly moved him all the way around to score.

The second inning was a carbon copy of the first, increasing the lead to two runs after two innings. This time Alex Rudolph had the double and later scored.

Two more runs came across in each of the next two innings, giving Grace a commanding 6-0 advantage heading into the fifth.

A single, walk and defensive miscue allowed another run to score. Carter Stogsdill singled up the middle and De Leon walked. An error by the pitcher chased Stogsdill home. De Leon scored a couple batters later on an RBI single from Grant Hartley. 

In the fourth, Jose Ayala worked a free pass and moved into scoring position after Stogsdill's hit to left. Ayala scored on a wild pitch before a stolen base, another walk and a wild pitch plated another run.

Grace's pitching was stingy through the first four at bats. The Yellowjackets could only muster one baserunner in that time. Joey Diaz started the game, allowing two hits with five strikeouts in 4.2 innings to get the win. 

The Lancers looked to blow the game open with aggressive baserunning in the sixth. Five of the six batters reached base safely in the inning, but accurate relay throws from the Defiance defense nailed two runners at the plate.  

The final run came across when Ryan Stark scored on a wild pitch. He doubled and moved to third after a Dalton Cody single.

Defiance made things interesting in the bottom of the seventh, but the rally was cut short with Grace ahead on the scoreboard 8-5 when the dust settled. 

Four hitters recorded multi-hit games. Stogsdill went 3 for 3 with three stolen bases and two runs; De Leon had 2 hits, 2 runs, 1 RBI and 1 walk.

Both teams got on the scoreboard early in the finale. The Yellowjackets struck first, but an 8-run inning from Grace turned the tables. 

The second inning was a hit parade as the bats came alive to the tune of eight hits in the frame. Two doubles and two singles brought home the first three runs. An error, four more hits and a sac fly brought home the other five runs.

Each team added a pair of runs over the next couple of innings before Defiance put together a four-run inning to get within two runs 10-8. In that stretch, Hartley belted a solo homerun. 

The bats heated up again in the late innings, giving Grace the clearance it needed to put the game away. A two-run homerun from Stark increased the lead before a five-run outburst in the seventh put the game out of reach. 

Aided by three free passes and an error, timely hitting did the rest. A single from Stark, a sac fly from Cody and a double from Ayala capped off the scoring for the visitors.

Seven batters had at least two hits. Josh Cosme was 3 for 5 with 2 RBIs and a run. Stark had 3 hits, 4 RBIs and 3 runs while Ayala recorded 3 hits, 3 RBIs, 2 runs and a walk.

Steven Hernandez picked up the win with 4.2 innings of work. He was followed by Sam Justice, who pitched the final 2.2 innings in relief with four strikeouts.

The Lancers will continue the season with a four-game series against Aquinas on Feb. 21-22 in Xenia, Ohio.