MISHAWAKA, Ind. - Grace's baseball team took one of two games versus Bethel on Thursday in a pivotal Crossroads League series.
The Pilots held on for a 7-6 win in the opener, but Grace roared back with a 13-2 rousing victory in game two.
Thursday's split sets up a dramatic finish to the regular season on Saturday. Grace and Bethel are vying for the final spot in the Crossroads League Tournament. The Lancers need to win both games of Saturday's doubleheader in order to grab the eighth spot. Bethel needs to produce at least a split to finish ahead of Grace. Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
Thursday's opening game was scoreless for the first two frames. In the third, Grace surged in front.
Mayo Fernandez singled and was brought home with a triple from Carter Stogsdill. Matt Friesema singled home Stogsdill.
Gabriel Maldonado also hit an RBI triple in the inning, handing Grace an early 3-0 advantage.
The Pilots countered over the next two innings, generating four runs to pull ahead 4-3.
In the seventh, Bethel tacked on a pair of runs. The Lancers answered in kind with two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Jose Ayala drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, and Mason Wire's two-out double brought in Maldonado.
Bethel scored an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth, which proved to be valuable.
Grace nearly pulled off a two-out rally in the top of the ninth. After Grace's first two batters were retired, the Lancers produced three straight singles off the bats of Stogsdill, Friesema and Cayden Calloway. But Grace was retired with a strikeout on the final at-bat, ending the game behind by one on the scoreboard.
Maldonado batted 2 for 5 with a double and a triple, Stogsdill was 3 for 5 with two runs scored, Friesema also hit 3 for 5, and Wire finished 2 for 4.
In game two, Grace used two crooked innings in the middle of the game to pull away for good.
In the third inning, four singles in a row allowed Grace to rack up four runs.
An inning later, Ian Wilson and Darl Gustin both reached base and stole their way into scoring position. A ground ball from Joey Diaz scoring one run, and Fernandez's single drove in another.
Grant Rojek drove in the final run of the inning as Grace seized a commanding 7-0 lead.
Grace ensured the victory with an explosion in the top of the seventh, producing six runs in a flurry. The inning was punctuated by a two-out grand slam from Fernandez.
Bethel was unable to build a response in the face of strong pitching from Sam Justice. The senior hurler kept the Pilots off balance throughout the game, holding Bethel to just five hits and two runs in a complete-game effort. He struck out three and walked three to get the win from the mound.
Fernandez was a force, batting 4 for 5 with three runs and five RBIs. Rojek had three hits and three RBIs, and Diaz walked twice and scored twice.
