PIPPA PASSES, Ky. – Grace's softball team kicked off the 2026 under first-year head coach Amanda Jones against Alice Lloyd on Friday and Saturday. The Lancers won both games on Friday, marking the first head coaching wins of Coach Jones's career. Saturday's twinbill saw each team come away victorious. 

In the season opener, Grace used a three-run rally in the seventh inning to win 8-6. 

The Lancers led most of the way, but a four-run inning by Alice Lloyd looked to spoil the narrative. 

Emme Meyering started off her collegiate career with a home run in her first career at-bat to start the scoring in the first. 

ALC responded in the home half to tie it at one. The Lancers scored the next four runs to take a 5-2 lead into the bottom half of the sixth. 

Emma Hiss clubbed a two-run shot in the third. Sami Lemler drove in a run on an RBI single in the fourth, and Marly Coan smacked an RBI double in the sixth.

The Eagles stormed back with four runs to take a 6-5 advantage heading into the final inning. 

The Lancers loaded the bases in the seventh, and a single from Paige McCorkle cleared the bases, giving Grace an 8-6 advantage. Chloe Huff pitched a 1-2-3 seventh to close the door. 

Meyering had 3 hits, 3 runs and 1 RBI, while McCorkle added 2 hits and 3 RBIs.

Grace withstood a late rally to win the second game on Friday 6-4.

The Lancers scored the first six runs of the game to hold a commanding lead heading into the final two innings.

Avery Sleeth hit a two-run blast to open the scoring. In the fourth, Molly Jones provided an RBI single. Two innings later, Sleeth picked up her third RBI of the game followed by an error on Elena Robertson's ground ball to plate two more runs. 

ALC scored three runs and had the tying run on base in the bottom of the seventh, but Daylie Rickard was able to get the final outs to seal the 6-4 victory. 

Game one of Saturday's doubleheader produced a pitcher's duel with ALC coming away with a narrow 1-0 margin. The only run of the game came in the first inning. 

Both teams struggled to get going offensively throughout the game. The Lancers collected four hits in the game, but couldn't find the tying run.

Grace was able to get out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning, forcing a double play and a ground out to end the inning.

Lemler supplied two hits, while Allie Furches picked up a walk and a stolen base.

Grace led from start to finish in the series finale, winning 4-2. 

The Lancers took advantage of a fielding error in the third inning to score the first two runs of the game. Both teams did not score again until the final inning. 

Two important insurance runs touched home in the seventh. Jones and Sleeth recorded hits, and Lauren Kirkpatrick reached on a hit by pitch. Lemler provided a two-run single to increase the lead to four. 

The Eagles plated two runs in the bottom half, but Hiss locked in to get three ground ball outs to finish the game.

Lemler had a multi-hit game with 3 hits, 2 RBIs and 1 run. Hiss went the distance in the circle to get the win.

The Lancers will be on the road against IU South Bend on Feb. 28. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.