Grace Softball Downed By Late Rally
March 29, 2023 at 10:04 p.m.
Grace Softball Downed By Late Rally
By Grant Cook-
The Lancers (4-13, 3-9 CL) lost 4-1 in game one and were unable to hold a late lead in game two, falling by a final score of 4-3.
The Trojans (12-10, 4-4 CL) plated a pair of runs in their first turn at bat, to take a 2-0 lead after one inning of play.
Laikyn Lowe and Brenna Elgin reached base for Grace in the second inning, but were left stranded after a groundout ended the inning.
Both offenses went quiet in the middle innings as the game entered the sixth inning with the Trojans still leading 2-0.
Tia O’Connor started the top of the sixth inning with a double. O’Connor moved to third and Cassie Hayes reached base after Taylor misplayed a ground ball from Hayes, as the Lancers tried to piece together a late rally.
Kali Kahalekomo, who came in to pinch run for Hayes, was thrown out trying to steal second base. O’Connor came across to score on the steal attempt to pull Grace within one as the game entered the bottom of the sixth.
The Trojans’ lead was pushed to 4-1 by way of a two-run home run.
Grace had runners on first and second base with no outs in the seventh inning, but Taylor ended the threat to hold on for the 4-1 victory.
Taylor would threaten first in the second game of the afternoon after a leadoff single and steal put a runner in scoring position for the Trojans. After surrendering the leadoff hit, Grace’s pitcher Jeri Ellis struckout out a batter and got a pair of flyouts to end the inning.
With two outs in the second inning Montana Brincks got Grace’s first hit of the game. Bree Gardinier followed up with a double into left field, but the Lancers were unable to push across the first run of the contest.
Both offenses were then muted until the fifth inning.
Taylor plated the first run of the game after a two-out double scored the Trojans runner who started on first base.
It did not take the Lancers long to answer back however, as Grace would gain the lead in the top of the sixth.
Grace had runners on the corners as O’Connor and Ellis both reached safely to start the inning.
Carly Ruiz hit a sacrifice to tie the game at one, and Hayes pushed the Lancers ahead with an RBI single.
The Trojans recaptured the lead with two runs in the home half of the inning and carried a 3-2 lead into the seventh. Ellis tied the game again at three apiece with a sacrifice flyout in the seventh inning.
The Trojans earned the 4-3 walkoff win with a one out RBI single.
O’Connor had a stellar day at the plate, going for 4-7 with two runs scored across both games. Ellis and Brinks both had two hits in the second game.
The Lancers will take on St. Francis on Saturday, before starting a lengthy homestand next week.
Men’s Golf Begin Spring Play In KY
NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. - The spring season for Grace’s men’s golf team kicked off on Monday and Tuesday at the Garn Championship.
The two-day tournament was a crowded one at Champions Trace Golf Course, featuring 19 teams and 103 golfers.
The Lancers enjoyed a sensational final round during the three-round event, finishing 14th overall in the large field.
After the first day, Grace shot 327 as a team. Parker Wilburn and Payton Kelly each carded a 79 during the opening round to pace the Lancers’ lineup.
Tuesday was a 36-hole marathon. Grace fired a 328 in the morning round, but the Lancers were just getting warmed up.
Grace finished the third round with a score of 308, the sixth-lowest score of the final round.
Kelly led the charge for Grace. He had two rounds under 80 (79-80-77), leading Grace with a total of 236.
Isaac Embry best personified Grace’s tourney. After carding identical rounds of 84 in the first two rounds, the freshman exploded with a 1-over 73, tied for the sixth-best score in the third round.
Blake Lawson (85-83-78) and Chase Byron (85-81-80) each improved their total in every round, and Wilburn rounded out the squad’s scoring (79-85-86).
The Lancers are back in action on April 17 for the Ackerman-Allen Shootout.
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The Lancers (4-13, 3-9 CL) lost 4-1 in game one and were unable to hold a late lead in game two, falling by a final score of 4-3.
The Trojans (12-10, 4-4 CL) plated a pair of runs in their first turn at bat, to take a 2-0 lead after one inning of play.
Laikyn Lowe and Brenna Elgin reached base for Grace in the second inning, but were left stranded after a groundout ended the inning.
Both offenses went quiet in the middle innings as the game entered the sixth inning with the Trojans still leading 2-0.
Tia O’Connor started the top of the sixth inning with a double. O’Connor moved to third and Cassie Hayes reached base after Taylor misplayed a ground ball from Hayes, as the Lancers tried to piece together a late rally.
Kali Kahalekomo, who came in to pinch run for Hayes, was thrown out trying to steal second base. O’Connor came across to score on the steal attempt to pull Grace within one as the game entered the bottom of the sixth.
The Trojans’ lead was pushed to 4-1 by way of a two-run home run.
Grace had runners on first and second base with no outs in the seventh inning, but Taylor ended the threat to hold on for the 4-1 victory.
Taylor would threaten first in the second game of the afternoon after a leadoff single and steal put a runner in scoring position for the Trojans. After surrendering the leadoff hit, Grace’s pitcher Jeri Ellis struckout out a batter and got a pair of flyouts to end the inning.
With two outs in the second inning Montana Brincks got Grace’s first hit of the game. Bree Gardinier followed up with a double into left field, but the Lancers were unable to push across the first run of the contest.
Both offenses were then muted until the fifth inning.
Taylor plated the first run of the game after a two-out double scored the Trojans runner who started on first base.
It did not take the Lancers long to answer back however, as Grace would gain the lead in the top of the sixth.
Grace had runners on the corners as O’Connor and Ellis both reached safely to start the inning.
Carly Ruiz hit a sacrifice to tie the game at one, and Hayes pushed the Lancers ahead with an RBI single.
The Trojans recaptured the lead with two runs in the home half of the inning and carried a 3-2 lead into the seventh. Ellis tied the game again at three apiece with a sacrifice flyout in the seventh inning.
The Trojans earned the 4-3 walkoff win with a one out RBI single.
O’Connor had a stellar day at the plate, going for 4-7 with two runs scored across both games. Ellis and Brinks both had two hits in the second game.
The Lancers will take on St. Francis on Saturday, before starting a lengthy homestand next week.
Men’s Golf Begin Spring Play In KY
NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. - The spring season for Grace’s men’s golf team kicked off on Monday and Tuesday at the Garn Championship.
The two-day tournament was a crowded one at Champions Trace Golf Course, featuring 19 teams and 103 golfers.
The Lancers enjoyed a sensational final round during the three-round event, finishing 14th overall in the large field.
After the first day, Grace shot 327 as a team. Parker Wilburn and Payton Kelly each carded a 79 during the opening round to pace the Lancers’ lineup.
Tuesday was a 36-hole marathon. Grace fired a 328 in the morning round, but the Lancers were just getting warmed up.
Grace finished the third round with a score of 308, the sixth-lowest score of the final round.
Kelly led the charge for Grace. He had two rounds under 80 (79-80-77), leading Grace with a total of 236.
Isaac Embry best personified Grace’s tourney. After carding identical rounds of 84 in the first two rounds, the freshman exploded with a 1-over 73, tied for the sixth-best score in the third round.
Blake Lawson (85-83-78) and Chase Byron (85-81-80) each improved their total in every round, and Wilburn rounded out the squad’s scoring (79-85-86).
The Lancers are back in action on April 17 for the Ackerman-Allen Shootout.
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