Miranda Stars In No. 13 Rio Grande Upset
March 14, 2021 at 10:20 p.m.
Miranda Stars In No. 13 Rio Grande Upset
By Josh Neuhart-
The Lancers beat No. 13 Rio Grande 2-1 in overtime. Ulisses Miranda scored both goals after halftime for the Lancers (11-6-2), including the golden goal winner in OT.
All of the scoring in the match occurred after halftime.
The first half was a scoreless affair. The Lancers had only two shots before halftime compared to six for the Red Storm.
Rio Grande struck first with a goal in the 62nd minute. But Grace did not have to wait long for an equalizer.
Ten minutes later, Miranda picked off an errant pass by the Red Storm. Miranda promptly slotted the ball around the goalkeeper at the 71:51 mark.
Miranda nearly won the game in regulation. Ze Maria Goncalves made a pass into the penalty area, putting Miranda in front of the net. Miranda poked a shot around the goalkeeper, but a Red Storm defender cleared the ball out of bounds before it could cross the goal line.
The teams entered overtime with the score level at 1-1.
The winning moment came in the final minute of the first OT. Rio pushed members into attack and had a chance on Grace’s goal.
But Joe Bowles alertly snatched the ball and quickly relayed a pass up the field to Goncalves to start a quick counter.
Goncalves centralized a pass to Jordan Jayapuram, who then passed to his right to Daigo Adachi.
Adachi picked out Miranda making a run at Rio’s goal, and Miranda finished off the pass with a sliding shot to win the match.
Grace has faced a stiff spring schedule. The Lancers have now beaten No. 14 Madonna and No. 13 Rio and lost to No. 21 Indiana Tech (2-0) and No. 8 UNOH (2-1).
The Lancers’ next scheduled game is at No. 11 Spring Arbor on Friday.
Men’s tennis gets win over No. 17 UNOH
LIMA, Ohio - Grace’s men’s tennis team earned win No. 20 on the season in dramatic fashion on Friday.
The NAIA No. 19-ranked Lancers rallied from behind to upset No. 17 Northwestern Ohio. Grace now boasts seven wins against teams who were ranked or receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 this season.
The Lancers have already shattered the program record for wins in a season, improving their ledger to 20-5.
Grace had to battle from behind the entire afternoon against the Racers (6-2). UNOH claimed the doubles’ points, quickly winning at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles.
Pavle Popovic had the only straight sets win during singles’ play for the Lancers, claiming a 6-4, 6-3 victory at No. 6.
Fabricio Galvan pulled out a 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 win at No. 4, and Max Rozas battled to a 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 victory at No. 1. Those three-set wins simply set the stage for the decisive court at No. 3 singles.
Facundo Paredes did the near unthinkable to clinch the match for Grace. The freshman split the first two sets at No. 3 singles 4-6 and 6-4. Paredes found himself behind 5-1 in the decisive third set but bravely battled back to send the match to a tiebreaker; Paredes won the tiebreak to clinch the upset win for Grace.
The Lancers will have a few more tournaments this spring. Dates and opponents will be determined.
Baseball wins opener with walkoff homer, but drop twin-bill
LOGANSPORT, Ind. - Grace College’s baseball team picked up a win in epic fashion while splitting a two-game set against Huntington on Friday afternoon.
The first game of the doubleheader ended with a bang. The Lancers came from behind in the ninth inning to win thanks to a two-run walkoff home run from Austin Carr.
The Lancers (7-7, 4-2 Crossroads League) drew first blood in game one when starting pitcher Houston Haney helped his own cause by driving in Jaron Mullet on a sacrifice fly.
Huntington (10-3, 3-3 CL) was able to draw even in the third inning. A Grace fielding error in the third frame allowed the Foresters to tie the game 1-1.
The pitchers ruled the middle innings as neither team was able to drive across another run.
Haney was replaced going into the top of ninth after pitching eight innings. Haney struck out six batters while not allowing an earned run.
The Foresters looked poised to take the game with a home run in the top half of the ninth.
The Lancers answered back with three straight hits in their half of the ninth, ending with Carr’s shot over the right field fence, giving Grace the 4-2 win.
Evan Etchison picked up the win for the Lancers. Patrick Danforth had a multi-hit game, reaching base twice.
In game two, the Lancers threatened early picking up a pair of hits in the first inning. Grace failed to capitalize, however, and Huntington soon took hold of the game.
Grace surrendered runs in three straight innings. By the start of the fifth the Lancers found themselves in a 5-0 hole.
Grace was able to put together a couple of hits but couldn’t push across a run, falling 8-0.
Griffin batted 2 for 3 in the loss, and Sam Newkirk doubled.
Huntington clinched the Crossroads League series with Grace’s baseball team on Saturday.
The Lancers split the doubleheader on Friday, but the Foresters had the final word on Saturday by winning 7-2 and 4-0.
In the opener, Grace actually outhit Huntington 10-9 despite losing the game 7-2. The Lancers scored a run in the second inning and another in the seventh.
But Grace struggled to generate a big inning in the defeat.
The Foresters, on the other hand, produced three innings with multiple runs.
Patrick was effective at the plate, going 3 for 4 with a stolen base. Houston Haney hit 2 for 4 with a solo home run, and Jeff Pawlik batted 2 for 4.
The second game was a low-scoring affair. Grace was handcuffed with three hits and no walks across the seven innings.
Alex Rich earned two of Grace’s hits, including a double, and Sam Newkirk also doubled.
Bret Wilhelmi was strong on the mound, pitching three scoreless innings of relief with three strikeouts.
The Lancers will take on IU Kokomo on Tuesday in Kokomo. The Cougars are receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25.
Lancers softball falter against Midway
WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace College’s softball team dropped a pair of games to Midway on Saturday afternoon, falling 9-6 and 9-2
In the first game of the doubleheader one the Lady Lancers (0-14) quickly jumped out to a 3-0 lead.
After pitcher Dori Knight took down the Eagles in order at the top of the first, Grace bat got to work.
Britney Young drove in Elena Rolley for the first score of the game. Two batters later Young scored when Carly Ruiz doubled on a hard hit ball to right field.
In the second inning Grace struck again when Jessica Kaurich drove in Jeri Ellis to extend the lead over Midway to 3-0.
The Eagles (7-11) broke up Knight’s shutout late in the third inning. In the fourth inning Midway broke the game open.
The Eagles used a six-run fourth inning to take a stranglehold on the game. Midway would add to its lead in the fifth and held a 9-3 advantage when Grace came to bat for the final time.
The Lady Lancers had six baserunners in the seventh but could only cut the deficit in half, losing 9-6.
Kaurich had two hits, and Ruiz and Young both reached safely three times.
Knight struck out two batters, and Kendra Arnold pitched two scoreless innings in relief.
In game two, the Eagles scored in the opening inning to take a quick 1-0 lead.
At bat, Grace once again threatened early. Ellis, Young and Kaurich loaded the bases with just one out but Midway escaped the inning without surrendering a run.
Midway used the middle innings to stretch their lead and never looked back.
Grace plated a pair of runs in the fifth inning but would ultimately fall 9-2.
Ruiz reached safely twice for her second multi hit game in the afternoon.
The Lady Lancers will take to the road when they open up conference play. Grace plays Crossroads League opponent Bethel on Tuesday at 3 p.m.
The Lancers beat No. 13 Rio Grande 2-1 in overtime. Ulisses Miranda scored both goals after halftime for the Lancers (11-6-2), including the golden goal winner in OT.
All of the scoring in the match occurred after halftime.
The first half was a scoreless affair. The Lancers had only two shots before halftime compared to six for the Red Storm.
Rio Grande struck first with a goal in the 62nd minute. But Grace did not have to wait long for an equalizer.
Ten minutes later, Miranda picked off an errant pass by the Red Storm. Miranda promptly slotted the ball around the goalkeeper at the 71:51 mark.
Miranda nearly won the game in regulation. Ze Maria Goncalves made a pass into the penalty area, putting Miranda in front of the net. Miranda poked a shot around the goalkeeper, but a Red Storm defender cleared the ball out of bounds before it could cross the goal line.
The teams entered overtime with the score level at 1-1.
The winning moment came in the final minute of the first OT. Rio pushed members into attack and had a chance on Grace’s goal.
But Joe Bowles alertly snatched the ball and quickly relayed a pass up the field to Goncalves to start a quick counter.
Goncalves centralized a pass to Jordan Jayapuram, who then passed to his right to Daigo Adachi.
Adachi picked out Miranda making a run at Rio’s goal, and Miranda finished off the pass with a sliding shot to win the match.
Grace has faced a stiff spring schedule. The Lancers have now beaten No. 14 Madonna and No. 13 Rio and lost to No. 21 Indiana Tech (2-0) and No. 8 UNOH (2-1).
The Lancers’ next scheduled game is at No. 11 Spring Arbor on Friday.
Men’s tennis gets win over No. 17 UNOH
LIMA, Ohio - Grace’s men’s tennis team earned win No. 20 on the season in dramatic fashion on Friday.
The NAIA No. 19-ranked Lancers rallied from behind to upset No. 17 Northwestern Ohio. Grace now boasts seven wins against teams who were ranked or receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 this season.
The Lancers have already shattered the program record for wins in a season, improving their ledger to 20-5.
Grace had to battle from behind the entire afternoon against the Racers (6-2). UNOH claimed the doubles’ points, quickly winning at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles.
Pavle Popovic had the only straight sets win during singles’ play for the Lancers, claiming a 6-4, 6-3 victory at No. 6.
Fabricio Galvan pulled out a 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 win at No. 4, and Max Rozas battled to a 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 victory at No. 1. Those three-set wins simply set the stage for the decisive court at No. 3 singles.
Facundo Paredes did the near unthinkable to clinch the match for Grace. The freshman split the first two sets at No. 3 singles 4-6 and 6-4. Paredes found himself behind 5-1 in the decisive third set but bravely battled back to send the match to a tiebreaker; Paredes won the tiebreak to clinch the upset win for Grace.
The Lancers will have a few more tournaments this spring. Dates and opponents will be determined.
Baseball wins opener with walkoff homer, but drop twin-bill
LOGANSPORT, Ind. - Grace College’s baseball team picked up a win in epic fashion while splitting a two-game set against Huntington on Friday afternoon.
The first game of the doubleheader ended with a bang. The Lancers came from behind in the ninth inning to win thanks to a two-run walkoff home run from Austin Carr.
The Lancers (7-7, 4-2 Crossroads League) drew first blood in game one when starting pitcher Houston Haney helped his own cause by driving in Jaron Mullet on a sacrifice fly.
Huntington (10-3, 3-3 CL) was able to draw even in the third inning. A Grace fielding error in the third frame allowed the Foresters to tie the game 1-1.
The pitchers ruled the middle innings as neither team was able to drive across another run.
Haney was replaced going into the top of ninth after pitching eight innings. Haney struck out six batters while not allowing an earned run.
The Foresters looked poised to take the game with a home run in the top half of the ninth.
The Lancers answered back with three straight hits in their half of the ninth, ending with Carr’s shot over the right field fence, giving Grace the 4-2 win.
Evan Etchison picked up the win for the Lancers. Patrick Danforth had a multi-hit game, reaching base twice.
In game two, the Lancers threatened early picking up a pair of hits in the first inning. Grace failed to capitalize, however, and Huntington soon took hold of the game.
Grace surrendered runs in three straight innings. By the start of the fifth the Lancers found themselves in a 5-0 hole.
Grace was able to put together a couple of hits but couldn’t push across a run, falling 8-0.
Griffin batted 2 for 3 in the loss, and Sam Newkirk doubled.
Huntington clinched the Crossroads League series with Grace’s baseball team on Saturday.
The Lancers split the doubleheader on Friday, but the Foresters had the final word on Saturday by winning 7-2 and 4-0.
In the opener, Grace actually outhit Huntington 10-9 despite losing the game 7-2. The Lancers scored a run in the second inning and another in the seventh.
But Grace struggled to generate a big inning in the defeat.
The Foresters, on the other hand, produced three innings with multiple runs.
Patrick was effective at the plate, going 3 for 4 with a stolen base. Houston Haney hit 2 for 4 with a solo home run, and Jeff Pawlik batted 2 for 4.
The second game was a low-scoring affair. Grace was handcuffed with three hits and no walks across the seven innings.
Alex Rich earned two of Grace’s hits, including a double, and Sam Newkirk also doubled.
Bret Wilhelmi was strong on the mound, pitching three scoreless innings of relief with three strikeouts.
The Lancers will take on IU Kokomo on Tuesday in Kokomo. The Cougars are receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25.
Lancers softball falter against Midway
WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace College’s softball team dropped a pair of games to Midway on Saturday afternoon, falling 9-6 and 9-2
In the first game of the doubleheader one the Lady Lancers (0-14) quickly jumped out to a 3-0 lead.
After pitcher Dori Knight took down the Eagles in order at the top of the first, Grace bat got to work.
Britney Young drove in Elena Rolley for the first score of the game. Two batters later Young scored when Carly Ruiz doubled on a hard hit ball to right field.
In the second inning Grace struck again when Jessica Kaurich drove in Jeri Ellis to extend the lead over Midway to 3-0.
The Eagles (7-11) broke up Knight’s shutout late in the third inning. In the fourth inning Midway broke the game open.
The Eagles used a six-run fourth inning to take a stranglehold on the game. Midway would add to its lead in the fifth and held a 9-3 advantage when Grace came to bat for the final time.
The Lady Lancers had six baserunners in the seventh but could only cut the deficit in half, losing 9-6.
Kaurich had two hits, and Ruiz and Young both reached safely three times.
Knight struck out two batters, and Kendra Arnold pitched two scoreless innings in relief.
In game two, the Eagles scored in the opening inning to take a quick 1-0 lead.
At bat, Grace once again threatened early. Ellis, Young and Kaurich loaded the bases with just one out but Midway escaped the inning without surrendering a run.
Midway used the middle innings to stretch their lead and never looked back.
Grace plated a pair of runs in the fifth inning but would ultimately fall 9-2.
Ruiz reached safely twice for her second multi hit game in the afternoon.
The Lady Lancers will take to the road when they open up conference play. Grace plays Crossroads League opponent Bethel on Tuesday at 3 p.m.
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