WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace College's softball team came up short in a pair of games against Goshen on Thursday afternoon.

The Lancers (6-12, 0-4 Crossroads League) fell 12-2 in the opener and lost a hard fought contest 4-3 after leading most of the way.

The Maple Leafs (8-8, 2-2 CL) jumped ahead in game one and never looked back. Goshen scored the first six runs of the game to take the commanding lead.

In the home half of the second frame Grace fired back. Avery Sleeth and Marly Coan each reached with singles giving the Lancers two on with no outs. Halle Nett had an RBI and Coan score after a wild pitch to pull the Lancers within four runs.

The score wouldn't get any closer however, the Lancers were held off the scoreboard for the remainder of the game. The Maple Leafs plated six more runs to claim the 12-2 victory.

Grace had five different batters get a hit in the contest.

Game two followed a much different script; it was Grace who jumped out to the early lead.

Sami Lemer started Grace off by reaching with a walk and was moved over to second when Paige McCorkle laid down a sacrifice bunt. Sage Ladig hit a hard line drive down the left field line that just stayed fair allowing Lemler to score to give Grace a 1-0 advantage.

The second frame also saw Grace's leadoff hitter get aboard as Emme Meyering was placed on first after getting hit by a pitch. The Lancers lead was doubled after Nett hit an RBI double with two outs.

The Maple Leafs were held off the scoreboard through the middle innings thanks to Chloe Huff, who got the nod in the circle in game two and held Goshen without a hit until the fourth inning.

In the bottom of the fourth frame the Lancers score again. Molly Jones singled to leadoff the frame and used her speed to swipe second base. Lauren Kirkpatrick then singled to left field and Grace used aggressive baserining to plate another run.

The Lancers led 3-0 until the sixth inning where Goshen scored three runs to tie the game at three. All three runs were scored with one out.

In the bottom of the frame Grace got the go-ahead run to third base, but left her stranded as the game remained at three runs apiece.

In the seventh inning Goshen had a lead off triple and despite Nett and Sleeth teaming to tag her out at the plate after a ground ball by the ensuing batter, the Maple Leafs were still able to plate a run in the frame to claim their first lead of the game.

Grace tried to muster a response in the bottom of the inning as McCorkle had a leadoff hit. Goshen's third baseman made a fantastic effort on a diving catch on an attempted bunt play allowing the Maple Leafs to double up Grace on the play and seal the 4-3 comeback victory.

Grace out hit Goshen 7-6 in the game. McCorkle and Kirkpatrick each had two hits, Kirkpatrick had two RBIs. Huff pitched six innings and allowed three runs.

Grace will be back in action on Saturday as they travel to Huntington for their first Crossroads League road trip of the season.