Spring Arbor, Mich. - Grace College's softball team dropped a pair of close games to Spring Arbor on Tuesday afternoon.
The Lancers (7-19, 1-11 Crossroads League) fell 4-1 in the first game before dropping a 5-4 thriller to the Cougars in walk-off fashion.
The first game was a pitchers duel as the teams combined for just seven hits.
Emma Hiss got the start in game one for Grace. She allowed just three hits and two earned runs while striking out eight batters.
The Lancers went down in order to start the game while Spring Arbor (15-9, 6-4 CL) saw their first two batters walked. Hiss quickly regained control over her placement though, throwing just one more ball to her next three batters, striking out two of them to retire the side.
Hiss also showed off her offensive skill with Grace's first hit of the game, but she was left stranded at second.
The Cougars got two on in the bottom of the third and executed a double steal to plate a run and edge ahead 1-0. The Lancers answered back in the fifth.
Avery Sleeth had a one-out double to put herself in scoring position.
Marly Coan singled to right center which allowed Sleeth to score to draw the game even.
A pair of defensive miscues in the bottom of the frame allowed Spring Arbor to recapture the lead as they scored three runs.
Grace had runners on first and second in the sixth bringing the tying run to the plate but were unable to capitalize. The Lancers did not threaten in the final frame, falling 4-1.
The second game saw the Lancers strike early. The first two batters were retired when Hiss doubled to start a two-out rally.
Coan hit a hard ball through the heart of the infield pushing Hiss to third to give the Lancers runners on the corners. Sleeth then jumped on the first pitch of her at bat to single in Hiss to give the Lancers a 1-0 lead.
In the second inning the Lancers were again down to their last out when they plated a run.
Paige McCorkle singled to right which brought in
Emme Meyering to double Grace's lead.
Spring Arbor got on the board with a lone run in the bottom of the third inning, but Grace answered back in the next half inning.
Sleeth got on board with her second hit of the game then used a pair of wild pitches to come around to score to give Grace a 3-1 lead.
A pair of home runs, a two run home run and a solo shot, pushed the Cougars ahead 4-3 in the fourth inning.
The Lancers showed composure after surrendering the lead, to reclaim their advantage in the fifth inning.
Grace's first two hitters got on board safely to start the frame and a sacrifice fly from Coan tied the game at four. The score tilted back into Grace's favor when
Allie Furches hit an RBI single to score Hiss.
Grace carried the one run advantage into the final inning.
In the bottom of the seventh inning the Lancers had two outs with Spring Arbor runners on second and third. A wild pitch allowed the tying run to score then a single to center brought in the game winning run, giving Spring Arbor the 5-4 walk-off victory.
Sleeth was impressive at the plate, going 3-4 from the plate in game two, with four hits in the afternoon.
Coan and Hiss each had two hits while Meyering reached safely twice.
Grace will be back in action on Wednesday at 3 P.M. with a showdown against St. Francis.
