WINONA LAKE, Ind.. - Grace College's softball team dropped a pair of contests to St. Francis on Wednesday afternoon.

The doubleheader was rescheduled twice because of cold temperatures, originally slated to take place on March 17.

The first game of the twin bill started out fast for the Lancers (7-21, 1-13 CL). Emma Hiss retired the top of the frame in order then the Lancers bats got to work.

Paige McCorkle was walked then Marly Coan lined a single right back up the heart of the infield. Hiss aided her own cause with an RBI single and Sage Ladig pushed Grace's lead to two with an RBI of her own.

The Cougars (13-7, 9-3 CL) with a trio of hits and as many runs in the second inning to edge ahead of the Lancers 3-2.

USF's lead was short lived though as Lauren Kirkpatrick worked a 2-2 count and lasted a solo shot over the right field fence to tie the game at three runs apiece.

USF threatened again in the third, losing the bases with two outs. Grace escaped the inning unscathed when Hiss induced a harmless pop up that was corralled by Allie Furches to end the inning.

The Cougars did break through for a pair of runs in the fourth frame, and added two more in six to race ahead 7-3.

Avery Sleeth reached in the sixth and McCorkle got on base in the seventh but the Lancers were unable to plate either runner as they fell 7-3.

Hiss had two hits, and a RBI and while also pitching all seven innings, striking out three batters and surrendering five earned runs.

In game two USF blitzed out to an early lead. The Cougars scored in each of the first five innings to build a 10-0 lead.

Grace's offense finally came alive in the fifth inning when Sleeth had a lead-off triple. Izzy Waddle then got Grace on the board with an RBI single.

Kirkpatrick had another extra base hit for the Lancers and Sydney Argo had a two-RBI hit. The hitting parade continued for Grace when McCorkle doubled to bring in Argo and cut the deficit to six runs.

Halle Nett had the final RBI of the frame with a hard hit ball to second base making the score 10-5.

Despite combining for 15 hits through five innings, both offenses went quite over the final two. Nett was the Lancers lone base runner in the sixth and seventh innings as Grace was unable to complete the comeback, falling 10-5.

Waddle was a perfect 2-2 in the game and nine different players had hits.

Grace will travel to Mount Vernon for a road doubleheader on Friday.