MARION, Ind. - Grace College's softball team dropped a pair of games to No. 15 Indiana Wesleyan on Wednesday afternoon.

The Wildcats were the second straight opponent for Grace (4-10, 0-8 Crossroads League) that are in the NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll.

Grace played competitive throughout both games but were undone by one explosive inning from the Wildcats in game. The Lancers fell 12-4 and 10-5.

The Lancers were unable to do anything with leadoff singles in each of the first two innings, and IWU (16-2, 8-0 CL) scored six runs with two outs in the first frame to jump out to a quick 7-0 lead.

The Lancers continued to get base runners over the middle innings, they would get a player on base in all but the seventh inning, but were unable to to find the hits to dive in a run as the Wildcats extended their lead.

In the fifth inning Montana Brincks and Avery Sleeth each singled to put the Lancers in scoring position. Halle Nett then hit a ball that fooled the second baseman and allowed Brincks to come around to score.

Bela Duran and Sami Lemler each had RBI singles as Grace cut the deficit to six runs at 9-3.

IWU got one run back in the home half of the inning, but in the sixth frame Grace's offense got right back to work.

Sydney Argo had a double and a two-out walk from Sleeth gave the Lancers runners on first and second. Nett and Duran then each singled in a run to pull the Lancers to within five but it was as close as they would get, dropping Wednesday's opener 10-5.

Duran went 3-4 from the plate in the game and drove in two runs.

In game two the Wildcats pulled ahead 1-0 in the opening inning but Grace wasted little time in striking back.

The top of the second started with Grace loading the bases before the Wildcats recorded a single out.

Chloe Huff then had a two RBI single and Nett drove in another run to give Grace a 3-1 advantage over the 15th ranked Wildcats.

The lead would be short lived though as IWU tied the game in the home half of the inning before exploding for six runs in the third to take a stranglehold on the game.

After falling behind 10-3, Lemler responded with her fourth home run of the season, which tied her for the team lead, but it was too little too late for Grace as they dropped the game 12-4.

Argo was a perfect 2-2 from the plate in the game and Izzy Waddle struck out four.

Grace will be back in action for their home opener on Friday at 3 p.m. The Lancers will play host to Taylor.