Lancers fall to Trojans

UPLAND, Ind. - Grace's baseball team completed its season series against Taylor on Monday afternoon. The final two games of the doubleheader were rescheduled from last week with the Trojans taking both games 9-6 and 11-2.

The first game of the day was close throughout, with the score level through five innings. TU struck first, plating runs in two of the first three innings for a 3-0 lead. Grace's offense stormed back with four runs in the third inning to take a 4-3 advantage. 

Maximo De Leon reached base on an error and picked up a stolen base. He moved over to third on a bunt single from Matt Friesema. Josh Cosme cleared the bases with a three run shot to the gap in left. Three batters later, Jose Ayala sent a double down the line and Gabriel Maldonado followed him with an RBI single for the fourth run.

The Trojans tied the game an inning later and retook the lead with a run in the sixth. As the game entered the late innings, TU scored four insurance runs in the top half of the eighth. Those runs would prove pivotal as Grace scored a pair of runs in its half of the eighth. 

Ryan Stark led off the frame with a solo shot. Grace manufactured the other run with a hit by pitch and a wild pitch before De Leon ripped an RBI single up the middle to get within three.

The Lancers were unable to find any more offense with the final score reading 9-6 in favor of the Trojans.

De Leon finished game one with 2 hits, 1 run, 1 RBI and 2 stolen bases. Cosme reached base twice with a home run, a walk and 4 RBIs.

The finale saw TU jump out to an early lead, scoring runs in three consecutive innings for a double-digit lead through four innings. 

Grace scored in back-to-back innings, but the deficit was too much. Alex Rudolph provided a pinch-hit single and miscues from Taylor allowed Ayala to eventually score on a wild pitch. An inning later, Annikan Pettit hit a long ball to left for Grace's final run of the game.

Dalton Cody went 1 for 2 with a walk. Pettit had 1 for 3 game with a home run and a walk.

Grace's pitching staff combined for 12 strikeouts over two games. Joey Diaz accounted for four in the opener; Kyle Showley, Cayden Borchers and Caleb Davis each added two Ks. 

The Lancers will continue through the conference slate with a four-game series at Spring Arbor on March 7-8. Both doubleheaders are scheduled for 1 p.m.