WINONA LAKE, Ind. – Grace College's softball team picked up a series split with IU South Bend during the home-opening series on Saturday afternoon.
The Lancers (4-2) won the first game of the double header 2-1 in a pitchers duel before falling just short in game two 11-10. The Lancers nearly overcame a seven run deficit in the second game.
IUSB's (2-6) offense was quiet through the first two innings of the opener as
Elena Robertson limited the Titans to just a walk through their first seven batters.
Emma Hiss had a single in the first inning and
Paige McCorkle doubled to start the second but both runners were stranded as the game remained scoreless.
The Titans threatened in the third frame with a lead-off triple. Robertson struck out the next batter, then a ground ball allowed the Lancers to throw out the lead runner and eliminate the threat.
In the bottom of the third inning the Lancers drew first blood.
Lauren Kirkpatrick homered on a full count and two batters later Hiss blasted her second home run of the year to put Grace ahead 2-0.
The Titans had a pair of singles then took advantage of a fielding error by the Lancers to cut the lead in half.
In the top of the sixth the Titans got a baserunner thanks to a two-out error, but Robertson quickly stopped any hopes of a rally, as she struck out the next batter to end the top of the frame.
Grace led 2-1 entering the seventh inning and while a single seemed to give IUSB some hope, a fly out and ground out sealed the 2-1 win for the Lancers.
Robertson struck out three players in the complete game victory and Hiss had two hits. McCorkle had a double.
In game two IUSB jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the opening inning, but their lead was short lived as the Lancers struck back with four runs in the home half of the frame.
Grace's scoring started with a one-out walk from
Emme Meyering. Hiss then took advantage of an IUSB error, giving the Lancers runners on second and third.
Allie Furches then put a ball in play that scored both runners.
Marly Coan and
Molly Jones each added an RBI to push the Lancers' lead to 4-1.
The scoring frenzy continued in the top of the second inning as the Titans exploded for five runs to regain the lead 6-4.
Grace went down quietly in the second and third innings while the Titans extended their lead to 11-4. In the bottom of the fourth Grace started a ferocious comeback.
Jones reached first with a walk, then advanced to second with a stolen base. Kirkpatrick also got on base with a walk. Robertson then had a two RBI single and eventually came around to score herself.
Two more walks followed by a single from Hiss gave the Lancers a bases loaded opportunity. Furches grounded out for the first out of the inning but brought in a run on her batted ball and advanced the other two runners.
McCorkle added an RBI and Coan had an RBI double to pull Grace within a run at 11-10.
Chloe Huff entered the circle in the fifth inning and was nearly untouchable through her first two frames. She mowed down three batters and allowed just one base runner.
In the sixth inning Huff earned her way on base with a walk then was moved over to second with a sacrifice bunt. With two outs McCorkle came within inches of tying the game on a hard hit line drive to right field, but the Titan player made a great play on the ball negating the would-be RBI hit to end the inning.
IUSB got two runners on in the top of the seventh with two outs, but an infield popup ended their chances of extending their lead, and gave Grace one last chance.
The Lancers were able to get the tying run on the base paths but couldn't bring her around to score as the comeback fell just short as Grace fell 11-10.
Meyering reached base four times in the game with two hits and two walks. Hiss had two hits and Furches, Coan and Robertson all had two RBIs. Huff had three strikeouts in three innings pitched.
