Grace Bounces Back, Beats Bethel
April 21, 2022 at 10:34 p.m.
Grace Bounces Back, Beats Bethel
By Josh Neuhart-
The Lady Lancers dropped the opener 17-6 but rebounded to win 5-3 in the second game.
The first game did not go Grace’s way. The Pilots scored early and often in a run-rule shortened contest.
Bethel scored multiple runs in the first, second, third and fifth innings to claim the victory. The Pilots used seven doubles and three home runs to generate their runs.
Grace scored plenty of runs as well, using nine hits to plate six times. But it was not enough to keep pace with Bethel.
Bethany Gardner was Grace’s most consistent hitter, batting 3 for 4 with 1 double, 1 run and 1 RBI.
Kendra Arnold and Montana Brincks were both 1 for 2 with two runs scored, and Izabela Duran was 1 for 3 with a run and two RBIs.
The second game was drastically different. The score was knotted at 1-1 after four innings.
Bethel scored in the bottom of the first, and Grace responded in the third. Gardner doubled and stole third, then she raced home thanks to a two-out single by Cassandra Hayes.
Grace broke the game open in the fifth inning. Brincks, Duran and Gardner all reached safely on consecutive at-bats to load the bases. Hayes then took a 3-2 pitch over the right field fence to give Grace a 5-1 lead.
The Lady Lancers kept the Pilots off the scoreboard as the game headed to the final inning.
Bethel began the bottom of the seventh with home runs on the first two at-bats, slicing Grace’s lead down to two.
But Grace recorded three defensive plays to end the game and pick up the final three outs.
Kierstin Fickas earned the complete-game victory. She gave up seven hits with three runs, striking out five.
Hayes finished 2 for 3 with five runs driven in, and Gardner was 2 for 4 with two runs.
The Lady Lancers are back home this week with a series against Spring Arbor on Friday at 3 p.m. in the regular season finale.
The Lady Lancers dropped the opener 17-6 but rebounded to win 5-3 in the second game.
The first game did not go Grace’s way. The Pilots scored early and often in a run-rule shortened contest.
Bethel scored multiple runs in the first, second, third and fifth innings to claim the victory. The Pilots used seven doubles and three home runs to generate their runs.
Grace scored plenty of runs as well, using nine hits to plate six times. But it was not enough to keep pace with Bethel.
Bethany Gardner was Grace’s most consistent hitter, batting 3 for 4 with 1 double, 1 run and 1 RBI.
Kendra Arnold and Montana Brincks were both 1 for 2 with two runs scored, and Izabela Duran was 1 for 3 with a run and two RBIs.
The second game was drastically different. The score was knotted at 1-1 after four innings.
Bethel scored in the bottom of the first, and Grace responded in the third. Gardner doubled and stole third, then she raced home thanks to a two-out single by Cassandra Hayes.
Grace broke the game open in the fifth inning. Brincks, Duran and Gardner all reached safely on consecutive at-bats to load the bases. Hayes then took a 3-2 pitch over the right field fence to give Grace a 5-1 lead.
The Lady Lancers kept the Pilots off the scoreboard as the game headed to the final inning.
Bethel began the bottom of the seventh with home runs on the first two at-bats, slicing Grace’s lead down to two.
But Grace recorded three defensive plays to end the game and pick up the final three outs.
Kierstin Fickas earned the complete-game victory. She gave up seven hits with three runs, striking out five.
Hayes finished 2 for 3 with five runs driven in, and Gardner was 2 for 4 with two runs.
The Lady Lancers are back home this week with a series against Spring Arbor on Friday at 3 p.m. in the regular season finale.
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