Late rally Propels Lancers Past Crossroads Rival Bethel College
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Late rally Propels Lancers Past Crossroads Rival Bethel College
By Josh Neuhart-
The Lancers had not topped two runs in a game for seven straight contests entering Tuesday’s doubleheader. But Grace snapped that streak with a split against the Pilots (8-18, 5-5 Crossroads League), winning 11-8 in the opener and falling 1-0 in extra innings during the second game.
In the opening game, Grace used last-inning heroics to win.
The Lancers (16-18, 3-9 CL) jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the second inning. Hunter Ackerman led off the second with a single, and he came around to score on a single by Mitchell Enyart. With the bases loaded, Bethel committed a fly ball to allow Austin Green to score from third base. Grace continued to hit safely in the inning, and batted around the entire order. RBI singles by Jakob Radjenovich, Shay Hepler, and Xavier Harris gave the Lancers an early six-run advantage.
The Pilots slowly whittled away at Grace’s cushion, scoring in three of the next four innings to tie the game. The Lancers used a sacrifice fly from Hepler in the fourth to score a run and an RBI single by Maxwell in the fifth to plate another.
But Bethel countered with three runs of its own in the bottom of the fifth to knot the scoreboard at 8-8.
After neither side could score in the sixth inning, Grace produced the winning rally in the seventh. Austin Green doubled, and Maxwell continued his torrid offensive day with another RBI single. CJ Swartz then stepped up to pinch hit and executed a perfect squeeze bunt to score Enyart from third base. Radjenovich’s sac fly brought in Maxwell for Grace’s 11th run of the game.
Kyle Brunner took care of the rest from the mound, retiring the Pilots in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win. Brunner earned the victory from the mound, pitching two scoreless innings of relief.
Maxwell was a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs and two RBIs, and Radjenovich hit 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a stolen base. Ackerman finished 2-for-4 from the plate with two runs scored, and Enyart also plated twice.
In the second game, Grace’s offense reverted to its previous issues. The Lancers were unable to convert on run-scoring opportunities and lost 1-0 in nine innings.
Grace stranded nine baserunners in the game, including six innings with at least one runner in scoring position.
Jason Stevens pitched a masterful game from the mound. He allowed just four hits and one walk in seven innings and did not allow a run to score before being pulled from the game.
The Pilots won the game in the bottom of the ninth. After the first two batters were retired, Bethel produced a walk and two singles to seal the walkoff victory.
Radjenovich and Green were the only Lancers credited with a hit. Grace also reached base with seven walks and three Bethel errors.
The Lancers travel to Indianapolis for a pair of doubleheaders with Marian to end the week. Grace plays Marian at 2 p.m. on Thursday and 1 p.m. on Saturday, both times in Indianapolis.[[In-content Ad]]
The Lancers had not topped two runs in a game for seven straight contests entering Tuesday’s doubleheader. But Grace snapped that streak with a split against the Pilots (8-18, 5-5 Crossroads League), winning 11-8 in the opener and falling 1-0 in extra innings during the second game.
In the opening game, Grace used last-inning heroics to win.
The Lancers (16-18, 3-9 CL) jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the second inning. Hunter Ackerman led off the second with a single, and he came around to score on a single by Mitchell Enyart. With the bases loaded, Bethel committed a fly ball to allow Austin Green to score from third base. Grace continued to hit safely in the inning, and batted around the entire order. RBI singles by Jakob Radjenovich, Shay Hepler, and Xavier Harris gave the Lancers an early six-run advantage.
The Pilots slowly whittled away at Grace’s cushion, scoring in three of the next four innings to tie the game. The Lancers used a sacrifice fly from Hepler in the fourth to score a run and an RBI single by Maxwell in the fifth to plate another.
But Bethel countered with three runs of its own in the bottom of the fifth to knot the scoreboard at 8-8.
After neither side could score in the sixth inning, Grace produced the winning rally in the seventh. Austin Green doubled, and Maxwell continued his torrid offensive day with another RBI single. CJ Swartz then stepped up to pinch hit and executed a perfect squeeze bunt to score Enyart from third base. Radjenovich’s sac fly brought in Maxwell for Grace’s 11th run of the game.
Kyle Brunner took care of the rest from the mound, retiring the Pilots in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win. Brunner earned the victory from the mound, pitching two scoreless innings of relief.
Maxwell was a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs and two RBIs, and Radjenovich hit 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a stolen base. Ackerman finished 2-for-4 from the plate with two runs scored, and Enyart also plated twice.
In the second game, Grace’s offense reverted to its previous issues. The Lancers were unable to convert on run-scoring opportunities and lost 1-0 in nine innings.
Grace stranded nine baserunners in the game, including six innings with at least one runner in scoring position.
Jason Stevens pitched a masterful game from the mound. He allowed just four hits and one walk in seven innings and did not allow a run to score before being pulled from the game.
The Pilots won the game in the bottom of the ninth. After the first two batters were retired, Bethel produced a walk and two singles to seal the walkoff victory.
Radjenovich and Green were the only Lancers credited with a hit. Grace also reached base with seven walks and three Bethel errors.
The Lancers travel to Indianapolis for a pair of doubleheaders with Marian to end the week. Grace plays Marian at 2 p.m. on Thursday and 1 p.m. on Saturday, both times in Indianapolis.[[In-content Ad]]
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