WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace and Goshen shared two games in a baseball doubleheader at Tom Roy - UPI Park on Saturday.
The Lancers cruised in the opener, winning 10-0, but the Maple Leafs responded with a 2-1 victory in the series finale. Grace and Goshen split the four-game doubleheader for the weekend.
The opening game was scoreless after two frames before Grace jumped in front for good.
Grace used a two-out rally in the third to score three times. Ian Wilson doubled, and Matt Friesema was hit by a pitch. Jose Ayala drove them both in with a double.
Cayden Calloway hit a single on the next at-bat, extending the Lancers lead to 3-0.
In the fourth inning, Grace tacked on another run. Darl Gustin doubled to start the inning, and Mayo Fernandez brought him in with a single.
Three consecutive scoreless frames left the door open for Grace to pull away, and the Lancers did just that in the eighth.
A hit batsman and a single started the inning for Grace, and Ayala brought in both baserunners with a double.
Joey Diaz's sacrifice fly scored Grace's seventh run, and Gabriel Maldonado's single brought in another.
The Lancers managed to score two more runs, taking advantage of Goshen miscues – scoring off a wild pitch and an errant throw. Grace ended the game early via the run rule after pulling ahead 10-0.
Kyle Showley pitched a masterful game. The starting pitcher threw seven scoreless innings. He allowed only two hits without a walk, striking out nine batters in the process.
Bryce Berkemeier threw the final scoreless inning in relief, striking out two of the three batters he faced.
Grace had five batters record two hits in the contest. Ayala hit 2 for 5 with two runs and four RBIs. Wilson, Friesema and Gustin each had two hits and two runs scored. Calloway also hit 2 for 4 in the win.
The second game started as a pitchers' duel. The game remained 0-0 through four innings.
In the top of the fourth, Goshen put two runners in scoring position, but the Lancers made defensive plays to escape the inning without harm.
The Maple Leafs took the lead in the top of the fifth courtesy of a two-out, two-run home run.
Grace was poised to respond in the fifth with two singles, but the Maple Leafs kept Grace off the scoreboard.
In the top of the sixth, Goshen put runners on second and third with one out, but Tyler Sarver struck out the next two batters to end the threat.
The Lancers attempted to make a rally in their final at-bats during the seventh inning. Will Ambrose was hit by a pitch to start the inning, and Carter Stogsdill later singled with two outs.
Fernandez produced a timely single to score Ambrose. Fernandez and Stogsdill then advanced into scoring position after a wild pitch, but Grace's rally was cut short with a strikeout during the final at-bat.
Offensively, Grace was led by Stogsdill (3 for 3 with a steal) and Fernandez (2 for 4, 1 RBI).
The Lancers are on the road next week, playing at Indiana Wesleyan for a four-game series on Friday and Saturday.
