Lancers' Important Final Series Begins With A Win
April 28, 2023 at 10:24 p.m.
Lancers' Important Final Series Begins With A Win
By Adam Basinger-
The home team came out victorious in the opener in come-from-behind fashion to get the day started.
Bethel (18-28, 11-23 CL) scored the first three runs of the game with a run in the first and two more in the third. The Lancers (20-25, 12-22 CL) chipped away at the deficit, plating a run in back-to-back innings. Gavin Kelley led off the third with a hit by pitch and later scored on Maximo De Leon’s double down the line. An inning later, Sam Newkirk drew a leadoff walk. He stole second and scored on Austin Carr’s single to left.
The Pilots withstood the pressure until the sixth inning, when the Lancers surged ahead with a pair of two-run blasts to take a 6-3 lead. Josh Cosme smacked a single and Newkirk followed with a towering drive over the scoreboard in left center to take a one-run lead. Next was Carr with a double, and Grant Hartley capped off the inning with an opposite field home run to increase the lead to three.
Grace tacked on an insurance run in the seventh with its third longball of the game, this time from De Leon.
Kyle Reinartz started the game on the mound, going two innings with two strikeouts. The bullpen held the Pilots scoreless with only four hits allowed over the final seven innings. Joey Springer was credited with the win, pitching six innings before giving the ball to Hunter Schumacher to get the final three outs.
De Leon recorded two hits, two RBIs and a run. Carr also went 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run.
The second game of the twinbill was a pitcher’s duel. The game entered the final inning tied 1-1.
The Lancers plated their run early with one in the first. De Leon doubled to get into scoring position, and Jeff Pawlik brought him home with an RBI single.
The Pilots equalized in the fourth, benefitting from an errant throw and a single to tie the score.
Both teams pitched their way out of jams to set the stage for the final inning. Grace threatened in the fourth with two runners in scoring position and again in the sixth with a runner on third. Each time they came up empty. Bethel had two runners on base before Caleb Farney closed the door on the sixth to remain deadlocked.
In the final inning, the visitors were able to string together a walk and two singles to break the tie and push ahead by two. In the home half of the inning, the Lancers were retired in order to end the game, falling 3-1.
Five Grace hitters each recorded one hit. The lone RBI came off the bat of Pawlik in the first. Carr and De Leon each had extra-base hits.
Mason Meyer pitched 5.1 innings, allowing an unearned run, and collected four strikeouts.
The Lancers will continue the series against their fierce rival on Saturday at Miller Athletic Complex. The team will honor its senior class in a ceremony as part of the home finale. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Softball Upsets No. 25 Cougars In Final Series Of Season
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio - Grace’s softball team wrapped up its season on a high note on Thursday.
The Lancers picked up a NAIA Top 25 upset, beating No. 25 Mt. Vernon Nazarene 1-0 in the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader.
The Cougars won the second game of the twin bill 8-0 to officially wrap up Grace’s season.
The first game was a classic pitchers’ duel. Grace’s Jeri Ellis held the Cougars to just five hits with no walks in a sensational performance. MVNU’s Nadia Hoffman held Grace to three hits with one walk.
Neither team found the scoreboard across the first six innings. Grace had the first threatening moment in the third inning by loading the bases with two outs. But the final batter for Grace was retired with a pop out to leave three runners stranded.
The Cougars struggled to generate any offense until the sixth inning. Ellis held MVNU to three straight 1-2-3 innings to begin the game.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Cougars threatened. MVNU singled on the first two at-bats. But Grace’s infield handled the rest, getting three quick outs on ground balls to end the threat.
The Lancers grabbed momentum in the top of the seventh. With one out in the inning, Laikyn Lowe launched a solo home run over the left field fence for the first run of the game.
The Cougars did their best to respond during their last at-bats. MVNU led off the inning with a double to apply immediate pressure on Grace.
But the Lancers’ defense again was up to the challenge. Ellis drew ground balls from the next three batters, and the infield took care of the rest to retire the side.
Ellis concluded her outstanding pitching career with a complete game shutout. She struck out five during her five-hitter to register the NAIA upset victory.
Ellis also had one of Grace’s three hits offensively, joined by Lowe’s homer and another single from Taylor Hodgen.
Game two belonged to the Cougars. MVNU took advantage of six Grace errors and had 10 hits and a home run to end the game early 8-0 due to the run rule.
The Lancers had a baserunner in scoring position in three of the first four innings, but Grace was unable to push across a run.
MVNU racked up four runs in the second inning, benefitting from four errors by Grace in the frame. The Cougars then tacked on three more in the fourth and another run in the sixth.
Kali Kahalekomo batted 2 for 2 from the leadoff position, also reaching base with a hit by pitch. Cassie Hayes, Lowe and Avery Sleeth each recorded a hit for Grace in the season finale.
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The home team came out victorious in the opener in come-from-behind fashion to get the day started.
Bethel (18-28, 11-23 CL) scored the first three runs of the game with a run in the first and two more in the third. The Lancers (20-25, 12-22 CL) chipped away at the deficit, plating a run in back-to-back innings. Gavin Kelley led off the third with a hit by pitch and later scored on Maximo De Leon’s double down the line. An inning later, Sam Newkirk drew a leadoff walk. He stole second and scored on Austin Carr’s single to left.
The Pilots withstood the pressure until the sixth inning, when the Lancers surged ahead with a pair of two-run blasts to take a 6-3 lead. Josh Cosme smacked a single and Newkirk followed with a towering drive over the scoreboard in left center to take a one-run lead. Next was Carr with a double, and Grant Hartley capped off the inning with an opposite field home run to increase the lead to three.
Grace tacked on an insurance run in the seventh with its third longball of the game, this time from De Leon.
Kyle Reinartz started the game on the mound, going two innings with two strikeouts. The bullpen held the Pilots scoreless with only four hits allowed over the final seven innings. Joey Springer was credited with the win, pitching six innings before giving the ball to Hunter Schumacher to get the final three outs.
De Leon recorded two hits, two RBIs and a run. Carr also went 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run.
The second game of the twinbill was a pitcher’s duel. The game entered the final inning tied 1-1.
The Lancers plated their run early with one in the first. De Leon doubled to get into scoring position, and Jeff Pawlik brought him home with an RBI single.
The Pilots equalized in the fourth, benefitting from an errant throw and a single to tie the score.
Both teams pitched their way out of jams to set the stage for the final inning. Grace threatened in the fourth with two runners in scoring position and again in the sixth with a runner on third. Each time they came up empty. Bethel had two runners on base before Caleb Farney closed the door on the sixth to remain deadlocked.
In the final inning, the visitors were able to string together a walk and two singles to break the tie and push ahead by two. In the home half of the inning, the Lancers were retired in order to end the game, falling 3-1.
Five Grace hitters each recorded one hit. The lone RBI came off the bat of Pawlik in the first. Carr and De Leon each had extra-base hits.
Mason Meyer pitched 5.1 innings, allowing an unearned run, and collected four strikeouts.
The Lancers will continue the series against their fierce rival on Saturday at Miller Athletic Complex. The team will honor its senior class in a ceremony as part of the home finale. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Softball Upsets No. 25 Cougars In Final Series Of Season
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio - Grace’s softball team wrapped up its season on a high note on Thursday.
The Lancers picked up a NAIA Top 25 upset, beating No. 25 Mt. Vernon Nazarene 1-0 in the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader.
The Cougars won the second game of the twin bill 8-0 to officially wrap up Grace’s season.
The first game was a classic pitchers’ duel. Grace’s Jeri Ellis held the Cougars to just five hits with no walks in a sensational performance. MVNU’s Nadia Hoffman held Grace to three hits with one walk.
Neither team found the scoreboard across the first six innings. Grace had the first threatening moment in the third inning by loading the bases with two outs. But the final batter for Grace was retired with a pop out to leave three runners stranded.
The Cougars struggled to generate any offense until the sixth inning. Ellis held MVNU to three straight 1-2-3 innings to begin the game.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Cougars threatened. MVNU singled on the first two at-bats. But Grace’s infield handled the rest, getting three quick outs on ground balls to end the threat.
The Lancers grabbed momentum in the top of the seventh. With one out in the inning, Laikyn Lowe launched a solo home run over the left field fence for the first run of the game.
The Cougars did their best to respond during their last at-bats. MVNU led off the inning with a double to apply immediate pressure on Grace.
But the Lancers’ defense again was up to the challenge. Ellis drew ground balls from the next three batters, and the infield took care of the rest to retire the side.
Ellis concluded her outstanding pitching career with a complete game shutout. She struck out five during her five-hitter to register the NAIA upset victory.
Ellis also had one of Grace’s three hits offensively, joined by Lowe’s homer and another single from Taylor Hodgen.
Game two belonged to the Cougars. MVNU took advantage of six Grace errors and had 10 hits and a home run to end the game early 8-0 due to the run rule.
The Lancers had a baserunner in scoring position in three of the first four innings, but Grace was unable to push across a run.
MVNU racked up four runs in the second inning, benefitting from four errors by Grace in the frame. The Cougars then tacked on three more in the fourth and another run in the sixth.
Kali Kahalekomo batted 2 for 2 from the leadoff position, also reaching base with a hit by pitch. Cassie Hayes, Lowe and Avery Sleeth each recorded a hit for Grace in the season finale.
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