Grace Nears Nationals With Two Wins
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Josh Neuhart-
The Lady Lancers beat Oakland City and Cedarville in the NCCAA Midwest Regional Tournament on Monday. Grace needs just one more win on Tuesday to clinch a spot in its second-straight national tournament under head coach Heather Johnson.
Grace won the opening game against Oakland City 8-0 in a run-rule shortened contest and then proceeded to knock off the hosts Cedarville 7-5 in the second game of the day.
The win also secured the first 30-win season for the Lady Lancers (30-25) in 21 years (1994).
Grace did not waste time getting on the scoreboard in the opener against Oakland City (10-15). Chandler Elliott doubled with two outs in the first inning to score Samantha Johnson. Ashley Kleinbub singled on the next at-bat, and Kati Gregory drove two in with a double down the left-field line to make the score 3-0.
In the second inning, Grace continued its two-out punch. Brooke Shell laced a two-out triple to the outfield, and Johnson drove her in with a single.
The fourth inning sealed the win for Grace. Hannah Herbster tripled to the gap in left field and came home to score on the play from a throwing error. Morgan Hutcheson doubled and Johnson tripled in the inning as Grace jumped out to an 8-0 lead. The game ended after the top of the fifth via the eight-run mercy rule.
Chandler Elliott threw a two-hitter in the complete game with five strikeouts in five innings. Shell was 2-for-3 with two runs, and Johnson hit 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs.
In the second game of the day, Grace struck early and held on late to take down the Yellow Jackets (32-23). Elliott sparked Grace in the top of the first with a two-run double.
The Lady Lancers went on to claim a 6-1 lead after a massive third inning. Hutcheson and Shell led off the inning with consecutive singles, and Johnson drove them both in with a triple to right field. After Clarissa Knight was hit by a pitch, Elliott singled up the middle to drive in both runners.
Cedarville cut Grace’s lead to two with three runs in the bottom of the third, but Brittany Turner gave Grace an insurance run in the fourth. Alex Shipley took care of the rest from the mound, pitching the final four innings and giving up one run on three hits and a strikeout. Grace turned a key double play in the fourth inning to halt a potential rally.
Elliott drove in four runs on 2-for-3 hitting, and Shell batted 2-for-4 with two runs from the leadoff position. Johnson had two RBIs, and Knight plated twice.
Tuesday will determine the champion of the regional tournament. The first game will start at 11 a.m. Grace needs to win just 1-of-2 to claim the double-elimination championship. The winner receives an automatic bid to the 2015 NCCAA World Series which starts May 13 in Botetourt, Va.
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The Lady Lancers beat Oakland City and Cedarville in the NCCAA Midwest Regional Tournament on Monday. Grace needs just one more win on Tuesday to clinch a spot in its second-straight national tournament under head coach Heather Johnson.
Grace won the opening game against Oakland City 8-0 in a run-rule shortened contest and then proceeded to knock off the hosts Cedarville 7-5 in the second game of the day.
The win also secured the first 30-win season for the Lady Lancers (30-25) in 21 years (1994).
Grace did not waste time getting on the scoreboard in the opener against Oakland City (10-15). Chandler Elliott doubled with two outs in the first inning to score Samantha Johnson. Ashley Kleinbub singled on the next at-bat, and Kati Gregory drove two in with a double down the left-field line to make the score 3-0.
In the second inning, Grace continued its two-out punch. Brooke Shell laced a two-out triple to the outfield, and Johnson drove her in with a single.
The fourth inning sealed the win for Grace. Hannah Herbster tripled to the gap in left field and came home to score on the play from a throwing error. Morgan Hutcheson doubled and Johnson tripled in the inning as Grace jumped out to an 8-0 lead. The game ended after the top of the fifth via the eight-run mercy rule.
Chandler Elliott threw a two-hitter in the complete game with five strikeouts in five innings. Shell was 2-for-3 with two runs, and Johnson hit 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs.
In the second game of the day, Grace struck early and held on late to take down the Yellow Jackets (32-23). Elliott sparked Grace in the top of the first with a two-run double.
The Lady Lancers went on to claim a 6-1 lead after a massive third inning. Hutcheson and Shell led off the inning with consecutive singles, and Johnson drove them both in with a triple to right field. After Clarissa Knight was hit by a pitch, Elliott singled up the middle to drive in both runners.
Cedarville cut Grace’s lead to two with three runs in the bottom of the third, but Brittany Turner gave Grace an insurance run in the fourth. Alex Shipley took care of the rest from the mound, pitching the final four innings and giving up one run on three hits and a strikeout. Grace turned a key double play in the fourth inning to halt a potential rally.
Elliott drove in four runs on 2-for-3 hitting, and Shell batted 2-for-4 with two runs from the leadoff position. Johnson had two RBIs, and Knight plated twice.
Tuesday will determine the champion of the regional tournament. The first game will start at 11 a.m. Grace needs to win just 1-of-2 to claim the double-elimination championship. The winner receives an automatic bid to the 2015 NCCAA World Series which starts May 13 in Botetourt, Va.
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