Newkirk Breaks Career Doubles Record At Spring Arbor
April 7, 2023 at 10:41 p.m.
Newkirk Breaks Career Doubles Record At Spring Arbor
By Grace College Sports Information-
In the opener, the Lancers (13-16 ,5-13 CL) scored a pair of runs in the seventh inning to put the Cougars (14-11, 9-11 CL) under pressure late in the game.
Grace trailed by three runs after six innings, having recorded two hits and seven total baserunners up to that point.
The Lancers manufactured two runs in the seventh to draw within a run. Bradyn McIntosh reached via walk and advanced to third on a John Joyce single. Maximo De Leon flied out to right, registering an RBI on the sacrifice fly. The next run scored when Josh Cosme singled to bring home Joyce.
The Lancer pitching staff held the Cougars scoreless from the fifth inning on. Mason Murphy pitched 4.0 innings in his start on the mound. Steven Hernandez came in to pitch the final 4.0 innings, allowing no runs and one hit with four strikeouts.
Grace looked to level the score in its final at-bat of the game. After back-to-back singles from De Leon and Jeff Pawlik, the Lancers had the tying run 90 feet away with 2 outs. The Cougars, however, were able to hang on and close out the game, with a narrow 3-2 margin.
Pawlik reached base four times with 2 hits and 2 walks. Cosme added two hits as well with an RBI and a walk.
The second game of the day started out with three runs in the first for the visitors, but the Cougars responded and turned the game upside down to take a commanding lead.
De Leon led off the game with a triple and Pawlik followed with a sacrifice fly to put the first run on the board. With two outs, Cosme scored on a Sean Gannon RBI single and Austin Carr later scored on a wild pitch.
The Lancer bats were held in check until two more runs scored in the fifth. Pawlik’s double moved De Leon into scoring position and he scored on the RBI groundout from Cosme. Newkirk, who tied the doubles record in game one, drove in a run with his second double of the afternoon. He pushed his career total to 37 doubles, becoming the all-time leader.
Despite the two runs late from the Lancers, the Cougars were well in control of the game and closed things out for a 21-5 final scoreline.
The Lancers will be back home at Miller Athletic Complex to finish their series against Marian on April 10 at 1 p.m.
Softball Drops Pair To Visiting Wildcats
WINONA LAKE - Grace College’s softball dropped a pair of contests to No. 22 Indiana Wesleyan in doubleheader action on Thursday afternoon.
The Lancers (6-17, 5-13 Crossroads League) battled throughout both matches, but couldn’t overcome the Wildcats potent offense, falling 10-3 and 8-4.
Despite the final score, game one was tightly contested through most of the game.
Grace had the first baserunners of the game with a pir of second inning walks. The runners were stranded at first and second after Grace was unable to find the needed offense to push them ahead for the game’s first score.
IWU (21-9, 10-6 CL) drew first blood in the top of the third. The Wildcats’ leadoff hit a line drive into deep-right field, and the Grace fielder came up hobbled on the play which allowed the IWU player to come around to score.
A pair of groundouts and an alert throw from Bree Gardinier to Laikyn Lowe to catch a Wildcat player attempting to steal second base brought the top of the inning to a close.
IWU’s lead would be short lived however, as Grace found the offensive touch in the next half inning.
Ashley Beckler, Taylor Hodgen and Carly Ruiz loaded the bases for the Lancers with nobody out. Jeri Ellis got credit for the game tying RBI, as she singled through the middle of the infield.
The Lancers got their first lead of the afternoon two batters later, as Cassie Hayes picked up an RBI single. The bases remained loaded with just one out, but the Wildcats picked up a pair of strikeouts to limit Grace’s lead to just one run.
The scoring would continue in the top of the fourth inning as IWU used two runs to leapfrog themselves back into a 3-2 lead.
A lone double from Taylor Hodgen was all Grace could muster in the fourth inning. IWU would tack on another run in the fifth to bolster their lead to 4-2.
The Lancers would draw back within a single run in the bottom of the fifth when Ellis scored on a hard-hit double from Hayes.
The 4-3 deficit would be as close as Grace would get though as IWU made use of a pair of homeruns in the closing innings to secure the 10-3 victory in game one.
In game two, much like game one, Grace went blow-for-blow early with the 22nd ranked Wildcats.
After surrendering two runs in the top of the first, Ellis helped get Grace’s offense in gear with a leadoff single. She would advance to third after taking advantage of a Wildcats’ miscue fielding the ball.
Tia O’Connor then continued her impressive stretch of Crossroads League play, as she singled in Ellis in the next at bat. Lowe then put a sacrifice bunt into play, and another error from the Wildcats defense allowed O’connor to score from second base to tie the game at 2-2.
The Wildcats put up a run in the second and third innings to reestablish their lead at 4-2.
In the home half of the third, Montana Brincks added to her team leading RBI total as she brought Hayes in to score to cut the IWU lead in half.
Grace was unable to hold down the Wildcats offense late, as IWU stretched their lead to 8-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh.
The Lancers gave their best effort to produce a rally as Grace loaded the bases before the Wildcats were able to record their first out. The Lancers were only able to push across one run though, and IWU held on for the 8-4 victory.
Cassie Hayes had a tremendous day at the plate, reaching base seven times with five at bats and also recording one run and two RBIs.
The Lancers will return to play on Tuesday at 3 p.m. The Lancers will close out this eight game homestand with a pair of games against No. 12 Marian.
Latest News
E-Editions
In the opener, the Lancers (13-16 ,5-13 CL) scored a pair of runs in the seventh inning to put the Cougars (14-11, 9-11 CL) under pressure late in the game.
Grace trailed by three runs after six innings, having recorded two hits and seven total baserunners up to that point.
The Lancers manufactured two runs in the seventh to draw within a run. Bradyn McIntosh reached via walk and advanced to third on a John Joyce single. Maximo De Leon flied out to right, registering an RBI on the sacrifice fly. The next run scored when Josh Cosme singled to bring home Joyce.
The Lancer pitching staff held the Cougars scoreless from the fifth inning on. Mason Murphy pitched 4.0 innings in his start on the mound. Steven Hernandez came in to pitch the final 4.0 innings, allowing no runs and one hit with four strikeouts.
Grace looked to level the score in its final at-bat of the game. After back-to-back singles from De Leon and Jeff Pawlik, the Lancers had the tying run 90 feet away with 2 outs. The Cougars, however, were able to hang on and close out the game, with a narrow 3-2 margin.
Pawlik reached base four times with 2 hits and 2 walks. Cosme added two hits as well with an RBI and a walk.
The second game of the day started out with three runs in the first for the visitors, but the Cougars responded and turned the game upside down to take a commanding lead.
De Leon led off the game with a triple and Pawlik followed with a sacrifice fly to put the first run on the board. With two outs, Cosme scored on a Sean Gannon RBI single and Austin Carr later scored on a wild pitch.
The Lancer bats were held in check until two more runs scored in the fifth. Pawlik’s double moved De Leon into scoring position and he scored on the RBI groundout from Cosme. Newkirk, who tied the doubles record in game one, drove in a run with his second double of the afternoon. He pushed his career total to 37 doubles, becoming the all-time leader.
Despite the two runs late from the Lancers, the Cougars were well in control of the game and closed things out for a 21-5 final scoreline.
The Lancers will be back home at Miller Athletic Complex to finish their series against Marian on April 10 at 1 p.m.
Softball Drops Pair To Visiting Wildcats
WINONA LAKE - Grace College’s softball dropped a pair of contests to No. 22 Indiana Wesleyan in doubleheader action on Thursday afternoon.
The Lancers (6-17, 5-13 Crossroads League) battled throughout both matches, but couldn’t overcome the Wildcats potent offense, falling 10-3 and 8-4.
Despite the final score, game one was tightly contested through most of the game.
Grace had the first baserunners of the game with a pir of second inning walks. The runners were stranded at first and second after Grace was unable to find the needed offense to push them ahead for the game’s first score.
IWU (21-9, 10-6 CL) drew first blood in the top of the third. The Wildcats’ leadoff hit a line drive into deep-right field, and the Grace fielder came up hobbled on the play which allowed the IWU player to come around to score.
A pair of groundouts and an alert throw from Bree Gardinier to Laikyn Lowe to catch a Wildcat player attempting to steal second base brought the top of the inning to a close.
IWU’s lead would be short lived however, as Grace found the offensive touch in the next half inning.
Ashley Beckler, Taylor Hodgen and Carly Ruiz loaded the bases for the Lancers with nobody out. Jeri Ellis got credit for the game tying RBI, as she singled through the middle of the infield.
The Lancers got their first lead of the afternoon two batters later, as Cassie Hayes picked up an RBI single. The bases remained loaded with just one out, but the Wildcats picked up a pair of strikeouts to limit Grace’s lead to just one run.
The scoring would continue in the top of the fourth inning as IWU used two runs to leapfrog themselves back into a 3-2 lead.
A lone double from Taylor Hodgen was all Grace could muster in the fourth inning. IWU would tack on another run in the fifth to bolster their lead to 4-2.
The Lancers would draw back within a single run in the bottom of the fifth when Ellis scored on a hard-hit double from Hayes.
The 4-3 deficit would be as close as Grace would get though as IWU made use of a pair of homeruns in the closing innings to secure the 10-3 victory in game one.
In game two, much like game one, Grace went blow-for-blow early with the 22nd ranked Wildcats.
After surrendering two runs in the top of the first, Ellis helped get Grace’s offense in gear with a leadoff single. She would advance to third after taking advantage of a Wildcats’ miscue fielding the ball.
Tia O’Connor then continued her impressive stretch of Crossroads League play, as she singled in Ellis in the next at bat. Lowe then put a sacrifice bunt into play, and another error from the Wildcats defense allowed O’connor to score from second base to tie the game at 2-2.
The Wildcats put up a run in the second and third innings to reestablish their lead at 4-2.
In the home half of the third, Montana Brincks added to her team leading RBI total as she brought Hayes in to score to cut the IWU lead in half.
Grace was unable to hold down the Wildcats offense late, as IWU stretched their lead to 8-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh.
The Lancers gave their best effort to produce a rally as Grace loaded the bases before the Wildcats were able to record their first out. The Lancers were only able to push across one run though, and IWU held on for the 8-4 victory.
Cassie Hayes had a tremendous day at the plate, reaching base seven times with five at bats and also recording one run and two RBIs.
The Lancers will return to play on Tuesday at 3 p.m. The Lancers will close out this eight game homestand with a pair of games against No. 12 Marian.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092