Lancers Drop DH To Pilots
March 28, 2017 at 3:19 p.m.
Lancers Drop DH To Pilots
By Josh Neuhart-
In the opening game, Grace's bats were muted in a 3-2 defeat. In the second game, the Lancers' defense could not keep pace with the team's strong offense in an 11-8 loss.
The first game saw the Lancers (10-15-1, 2-6 Crossroads League) produce just three hits. Grace led 1-0 after three innings after Jamar Bray singled and eventually scored in the second inning.
The Pilots (12-6, 3-5 CL) countered with two runs in the fourth and a valuable insurance run in the sixth.
In Grace's final at-bats during the top of the seventh, the Lancers had the tying run in scoring position. Austin Baker and Bray walked to start the inning, and Chase Baker singled to score his brother. But with one out in the inning, Grace was unable to move the tying run off second base with a strike out and a fly out to end the game.
Blake Converset tossed 5.2 innings as the starter, giving up three runs with two strikeouts. Bray and Chase Baker had the only hits of the game for Grace with Baker recording both RBIs.
In the second game, Grace's bats came to life. The Lancers outhit the Pilots 13-12, but three fielding errors and two big innings from Bethel lost the game.
The Lancers seemed poised to recover from losing the first game early on. Grace went ahead 3-0 after the top of the third. Cameron Maxwell hit a sacrifice fly to score one, Xavier Harris had an RBI single, and Austin Baker belted a leadoff solo home run in the third.
Bethel enjoyed its first big inning in the bottom half of the third with five runs to take the lead. Grace tied the score with two more runs during the top of the fourth, both off a two-out, two-run double by Bray to plate Gavin Bussard and Harris.
The score remained 5-5 until the final four innings. Bethel ripped off six runs from the sixth inning on, and Grace could only counter with three runs of its own.
Austin Baker blasted a two-run home run, his second of the day, in the top of the eighth to give Grace a jolt and cut Bethel's lead to 8-7. The Pilots came back with three runs in the bottom of the inning to open up a four-run margin.
In the ninth, Grace did its best to conjure up a two-out rally. Matthew Warren singled to left field, and Hunter Ackerman doubled to drive him in. Unfortunately, Grace was retired on the next at-bat with a long fly ball.
David Anderson and Jake Farley were the most efficient pitchers in the game for Grace, both tossing one inning of relief apiece.
Austin Baker finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs, and his brother Chase went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Ackerman hit 3-for-5, Bussard had two hits and a double, and Harris had 2 runs, 2 walks and an RBI.
The Lancers continue league action Wednesday at St. Francis. Grace ends the week at home with a three-game series against Marian on Friday and Saturday.
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In the opening game, Grace's bats were muted in a 3-2 defeat. In the second game, the Lancers' defense could not keep pace with the team's strong offense in an 11-8 loss.
The first game saw the Lancers (10-15-1, 2-6 Crossroads League) produce just three hits. Grace led 1-0 after three innings after Jamar Bray singled and eventually scored in the second inning.
The Pilots (12-6, 3-5 CL) countered with two runs in the fourth and a valuable insurance run in the sixth.
In Grace's final at-bats during the top of the seventh, the Lancers had the tying run in scoring position. Austin Baker and Bray walked to start the inning, and Chase Baker singled to score his brother. But with one out in the inning, Grace was unable to move the tying run off second base with a strike out and a fly out to end the game.
Blake Converset tossed 5.2 innings as the starter, giving up three runs with two strikeouts. Bray and Chase Baker had the only hits of the game for Grace with Baker recording both RBIs.
In the second game, Grace's bats came to life. The Lancers outhit the Pilots 13-12, but three fielding errors and two big innings from Bethel lost the game.
The Lancers seemed poised to recover from losing the first game early on. Grace went ahead 3-0 after the top of the third. Cameron Maxwell hit a sacrifice fly to score one, Xavier Harris had an RBI single, and Austin Baker belted a leadoff solo home run in the third.
Bethel enjoyed its first big inning in the bottom half of the third with five runs to take the lead. Grace tied the score with two more runs during the top of the fourth, both off a two-out, two-run double by Bray to plate Gavin Bussard and Harris.
The score remained 5-5 until the final four innings. Bethel ripped off six runs from the sixth inning on, and Grace could only counter with three runs of its own.
Austin Baker blasted a two-run home run, his second of the day, in the top of the eighth to give Grace a jolt and cut Bethel's lead to 8-7. The Pilots came back with three runs in the bottom of the inning to open up a four-run margin.
In the ninth, Grace did its best to conjure up a two-out rally. Matthew Warren singled to left field, and Hunter Ackerman doubled to drive him in. Unfortunately, Grace was retired on the next at-bat with a long fly ball.
David Anderson and Jake Farley were the most efficient pitchers in the game for Grace, both tossing one inning of relief apiece.
Austin Baker finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs, and his brother Chase went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Ackerman hit 3-for-5, Bussard had two hits and a double, and Harris had 2 runs, 2 walks and an RBI.
The Lancers continue league action Wednesday at St. Francis. Grace ends the week at home with a three-game series against Marian on Friday and Saturday.
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