HUNTINGTON, Ind. - Grace's baseball team dropped a pair of back-and-forth games to Huntington on Saturday afternoon. Both games were close for a majority of the contest with late rallies from the Lancers falling short 9-6 and 4-3.

Huntington (19-20, 14-14 CL) got on the board first in the opener, but with little separation. Grace tied the game in the fifth inning, making it 1-1. The Foresters scored the next eight runs to take control of the momentum.

Grace (14-24, 7-20 CL) closed the game with a flurry, scoring five runs over the final two innings. The HU lead, however, was too much to overcome with the final score reading 9-6 in favor of the home team.

In the eighth inning, Jose Ayala and Josh Cosme reached safely before a two-RBI double from Keenan LeBlanc chased them home.

In the final at bat, Grace loaded the bases with one out on a walk to Ryan Stark and back-to-back singles from Ayala and Cosme. Sean Gannon provided a sacrifice fly to bring home a run. LeBlanc followed with his third double of the day, plating two more.

LeBlanc finished 3 for 5 with four RBIs while Cosme added 2 hits, 2 runs and 1 walk.

The series finale was another hard-fought battle with neither team holding a lead greater than two runs.

The Lancers scored the first run of the game in the second frame. Ayala worked a leadoff walk and moved into scoring position after a balk from the HU pitcher. LeBlanc picked up the RBI with a double to left.

The Foresters responded with a run of their own in the bottom half to level the score.

Grace edged ahead again in the third, but the lead was short-lived once more when the home team plated three in their half of the inning.

The Lancers had an opportunity to cut into the deficit in the fourth with runners on second and third, but were unable to execute on the basepaths.

Maximo De Leon opened the fifth inning with a triple and later scored on a sac fly from Stark.

That would be all of the offense Grace could muster the rest of the way, going down in order in its final two at bats.

LeBlanc continued his hot hitting on the day, adding two hits and an RBI. Ayala reached safely in all three plate appearances with a hit and two walks.

The Lancers will finish up their series at Goshen, rescheduled from earlier this year, on Monday with a single game beginning at 4 p.m.