WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace's baseball team picked up its first conference win of the year with a 13-8 triumph against Mount Vernon on Saturday afternoon. The series finale, however, went to the visitors 18-11.

The Lancers weathered early offense from the Cougars to start the game. MVNU scored three runs in the top of the first. The home team, however, was ready to respond, matching the output to tie the game after a full inning of play.

For the second straight day, home runs were plenty with excessive wind conditions. Grace was first to use the longball with a pair in the first inning. Grant Hartley blasted a two-run shot and Ryan Stark continued his hot hitting with a solo home run to tie the game.

Grace tacked on two runs the next inning to take its first lead of the day. Maximo De Leon had the two-run shot this time to give Grace the 5-3 advantage. 

The Cougars erased Grace's lead to edge ahead 6-5, but Grace was up to the task once again. 

Two free passes put runners in scoring position before Stark added yet another home run to plate three. A few batters later, Jose Ayala hit a double to bring home Josh Cosme. Keenan LeBlanc hit a single to bring home Ayala.

The Cougars weren't ready to back down as they cut the lead in half at 10-8. 

Grace continued the offensive day, extending the lead back to four in the sixth. Two walks and a single loaded the bases for Stark. His single chased home two runs.

The final run of the game came in the eighth, when Stark added his seventh RBI of the game with a single up the middle.

Evan Etchison earned the win on the mound, pitching 5.0 innings with nine strikeouts. 

Stark sizzled with 4 hits, 7 RBIs, 2 runs and 2 home runs. LeBlanc contributed a 3 for 4 game with 1 RBI and 1 run. Matt Friesema had 2 hits, 4 runs and 2 walks.

The series finale showcased the offenses with the teams combining for 29 runs and 38 hits.

The Cougars jumped ahead early, scoring 14 runs over the first three innings, while Grace produced seven runs in that same span.

Friesema hit a two-run roundtripper in the first inning to tie the game at two. Grace's next opportunity came in the third with a five spot. Stark had an RBI double to get the rally started. Cosme later added a sacrifice fly and Ayala singled up the middle to bring home one more. LeBlanc capped off the inning with a two-run shot.

MVNU added a run in each of the next two frames, but Grace was able to add four runs over the same two innings. 

Cosme brought home the first two with a single in the fourth. An inning later, Friesema had a two-out double, bringing in the final two runs for the Lancers.

The Cougars tacked on two in their final at bat, making it 18-11.

De Leon finished the game 4 for 5 with three runs and three doubles. Friesema, Ayala and LeBlanc each had two hits, while three others had at least one hit.

The Lancers will make up the last of its series at Spring Arbor on Monday, starting at 1 p.m.