FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Grace College's softball team dropped a pair of games against St. Francis on Friday Afternoon.

The Lancers (4-6, 0-4 Crossroads League) were unable to keep up with a frantic offensive pace, losing 8-3 and 19-1.

Grace had a pair of hits in the opening inning but were unable to push across the game-opening run.

In the second inning the Cougars took advantage of a defensive miscue to score three runs. Halle Nett, Daily Rickard and Tia O'Connor all had RBIs in the top of the third inning to momentarily tie the game at three runs apiece.

St. Francis recaptured the lead thanks to a two-out two-RBI double to push ahead 5-3.

Grace scattered hits across the final innings but the Cougars added three more runs in the fifth inning to take a strangled hold on the game.

Grace was unable to muster a response and dropped the game by five runs.

Nett, Rickard and Sami Lemler all had two hits in the game and Chloe Huff struck out two batters.

The Cougars wasted little time in jumping out to a lead in game two as they scored three runs in the opening inning.

In the top of the second inning a leadoff walk started what proved to be an offensive explosion for the Lancers. Nett's walk was followed up by singles from Paige McCorkle and Montana Brincks.

Bree Gardinier had a two RBI single and Sami Lemler blasted a three run homer to push the Lancers ahead 5-3. Bela Duran also scored in the inning as Grace carried a 6-3 lead into the third inning.

Gardinier added another run to the Lancers lead with a solo home run in the third inning.

The Cougars roared back in the home half of the frame though, scoring eight runs to blitz ahead 11-7.

Gardinier continued her incredible offensive performance with another home run. This time a three run bomb from Gardinier pulled the Lancers within a run.

The runs continued to pour in as St. Francis added three more runs in the bottom of the fourth and Duran scored on a wild pitch in the top of the fifth.

Four more runs from the Cougars in the home half of the inning proved to be the final runs of the game as Grace ultimately fell 18-11.

Gardinier went 3-4 from the plate and had six RBIs and Lemler added three RBIs.

Grace will be back in action on Saturday against Indiana Wesleyan.