WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace College's softball team picked up a dramatic 5-3 victory over Mt. Vernon in game two of Saturday's doubleheader.

Grace (5-17, 1-15 Crossroads League) entered the bottom of the sixth inning down 3-0 and were down to their last out in the frame when a little two-out magic made an appearance. The Lancers added two runs to pull within one with two runners still on base. 


Sydney Argo then stepped to the plate blasted an 0-1 pitch out of the park to give Grace a lead they wouldn't relinquish. The win was Grace's first conference victory of the season.

MVNU (13-10, 6-8 CL) took full advantage of the long ball to start the first game, scoring six runs on a trio of home runs. The Cougars led 9-0 after two frames.

Halle Nett had the Lancers first hit of the afternoon which sparked Grace's offense. Bella Duran would replace Nett on the base paths with a fielder's choice. Tia O'Connor hit a sacrifice fly to score Duran and record Grace's first run of the game.

The Lancers continued the rally in the fifth inning which started with Paige McCorkle earning a free pass after being hit by a pitch.

A groundout moved McCorkle to second base and brought Montana Brincks to the plate with one out. Brincks hit a ground ball to the shortstop but McCorkle's alert baserunning caused a defensive miscue for the Cougars which allowed McCorkle to score and brought Brincks to third base.

Sami Lemler brought Grace to within four runs with a two-run blast that cleared the left field fence.

The Cougars came back with five runs in the top of the sixth and Grace was unable to produce the needed offense to extend the game, falling 14-4.

Game two proved to be a pitchers duel through the early innings with each team boasting just a single hit through three innings. The Cougars were able to take advantage of their solo hit being a triple which allowed them to edge ahead 1-0.

In the sixth inning it looked as if MVNU had taken a stranglehold on the defensive showcase as they added two more runs to stretch their lead to 3-0.

In Grace's half of the inning Lemler had a single to follow up a leadoff strikeout. Daylie  Rickard then reached with a walk but a flyout from the next batter had the Cougars poised to escape in the inning unscathed.

Bree Gardinier kept the Lancers alive with a single that fell just between the second baseman and right fielder. Her single brought Lemler around to score for the Lancers' first run of the game. McCorkle kept the rally going with an RBI single of her own to get Grace within a run.

Argo then stepped to the plate with two runners on base and down a run. The junior could not have scripted a better time for her first career home run as her three-run shot pushed the Lancers ahead 5-3.

With momentum completely flipped into Grace's favor the Lancers' defense retired the Cougars in order and secured the 5-3 win.

Chole Huff got the start in the circle and pitched six innings with two strikeouts to get the win. Rickard picked up the save with a perfect seventh inning.

Lemler's home run moved her into a tie with Gardinier for the team lead this season. Both players are also tied for fifth all-time in single season home runs at Grace.

The Lancers will be back in action on Tuesday for another home contest as they host Bethel at 3 p.m.