Lancers Take Two From Marian, Inch Closer To .500
March 26, 2023 at 8:29 p.m.
Lancers Take Two From Marian, Inch Closer To .500
By Grace College Sports Information-
With the game scoreless through two innings, Marian (11-15, 5-9 CL) was poised to take the lead in the third. Grant Hartley fielded a hard-hit ball and made a perfect throw from his right field position to nab the runner at the plate attempting to score.
Grace (11-12, 3-9 CL) got things cooking in its half of the third. Maximo De Leon singled and Jeff Pawlik doubled to put both runners in scoring position. Austin Carr drove in the first run with an RBI groundout, and Sean Gannon plated the second run with his sacrifice fly.
Josh Cosme led off the fourth with a single and his courtesy runner, Keenan LeBlanc, came around to score on a De Leon RBI single. Austin Carr executed a beautiful bunt to plate De Leon to make the score 4-0.
Marian cut the deficit to two with a pair of runs in the fifth, but each time the Knights scored Grace had an answer.
Grace tacked on three runs in the sixth inning to increase the lead to five. Carr added two more RBIs with a single. Later, Sam Newkirk skied a popup behind first base that was difficult to judge in the windy conditions and dropped in for a double, allowing Pawlik to score.
The final three runs came from a two-RBI single from Newkirk and an RBI groundout from Bradyn McIntosh in the eighth.
Kyle Reinartz got the start on the mound for the Lancers and pitched 4.2 innings with a career-high nine strikeouts. Hunter Schumacher came on to finish the final 2.0 innings in a non-save situation. He collected four strikeouts to close out the 10-3 victory. Grace pitchers combined for 16 strikeouts in the game. Isaiah Herbster picked up the win in 1.1 of relief.
Five Lancer hitters recorded a multi-hit game. Pawlik reached safely in all five at-bats with two hits, two HBPs and a walk. Carr went 2 for 4 with four RBIs and a run and Newkirk was 2 for 4 with 3 RBIs and a walk.
Game two was a pitcher’s duel for most of the game. The scoreline read 1-1 after four innings.
The Knights tallied first with a run in the third, and Grace immediately responded with a run to keep pace.
After Caleb Davis toed the rubber to start game two, Tyler Yoder made his Lancer-debut in a high-pressure situation in the third. With one run in and one runner on, he was summoned from the bullpen to get the final out of the inning.
The Lancers broke open the game with a four-run fifth inning. Grace strung together a series of hits to load the bases for Pawlik. With a 2-1 count, he hit a towering drive to center that cleared the fence by some distance. The grand slam homerun sent the Grace dugout into a frenzy.
Sean Gannon capped off the scoring an inning later with a longball of his own to make it 6-1.
Sam Justice notched the win with 2.1 innings of relief, scattering two hits and striking out three batters.
Pawlik finished 2 for 3 with four RBIs and a run, and De Leon added one run on two hits with an RBI.
Grace will head to Mount Vernon to complete its series with the Cougars on Monday at 1 p.m.
Softball Drops Pair To Goshen
GOSHEN - Grace College’s softball team dropped a pair of road games to Goshen College on Friday afternoon.
The Lancers offense was muted by the Maple Leafs throughout the afternoon, being limited to one run in both contests.
In the second inning, Goshen drew first blood. The Maple Leafs took advantage of a lead-off walk to cross the first run of the game and capture a 1-0 lead.
Montana Brincks singled in the home half of the third inning, but Grace was unable to string together the needed hits to threaten offensively.
The Maple Leafs doubled their lead in their portion of the third as Goshen took advantage of a trio of hits. Three more Maple Leaf runs in the fourth inning seemed to blow the game open.
Bree Gardinier got the Lancers on the board in the fifth inning with her second home run of the season.
Grace was unable to find the needed offense late to pressure Goshen’s lead, falling 5-1 in the first game of the afternoon.
Kiersten Fickas and Alexis Bergman each went three innings in the circle and managed seven strikeouts between them.
In game number two, the Lancers threatened with a pair of first inning singles, but were unable to produce a go-ahead run.
Goshen then jumped out to a 2-0 lead after five batters reached base in the first inning.
Jeri Ellis worked scoreless innings in the second and third, but Grace was unable to close the gap.
Two more runs from the Maple Leafs in the fourth inning put the Lancers at a 4-0 disadvantage.
Grace would once again find its offense in the fifth inning. Brincks started things off with a lead off single and freshman Brenna Elgin moved her to third base with a double.
Ellis brought Brincks in to score and got credit for the RBI, but the Lancers rally stopped there.
Goshen responded with five runs in the home half of the inning to lay claim to the 9-1 victory.
The Lancers will be back in action on Monday as they travel to No. 6 Indiana Wesleyan on Monday afternoon.
Lady Lancers Win To Start Spring Season
ST. ANNE, Illinois. - Grace College’s women’s golf kicked off its spring season with a tournament win in the Spring Tiger Invite.
A few days after being voted into the NAIA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll, the Lady Lancers backed up their ranking with a dominant performance. Grace boasted a 33-stroke advantage over the second place finishers.
“This was a great win and a very nice way to start our spring season,” said Grace head coach Denny Duncan. “I am so proud of how these ladies performed in some very adverse weather conditions. They are a mentally tough group.”
Carolyn Pacocha led the way for the Lady Lancers as she tied for the overall medalist honors. The senior turned in a 18-hole score of 77 to pace Grace.
“I am so happy for Carolyn,” added Duncan. “To play this well on a day like today is obviously amazing, but for her to do it with so many of her friends and family present made it all that more special.”
Finishing just a few strokes behind Pacocha was fellow senior Summer Stillson. Stillson boasted the second best front-nine score of the afternoon and finished third overall with an overall round of 81.
Joining her teammates and becoming the third Grace player to place in the top five was Lucy Young. Young carded a round total 86, just one stroke off of fourth place.
Grace May also tallied a top-10 finish with a total of 88. May’s mark was good for eight overall.
Grace’s four top ten finishers was the most of anyone in the tournament.
The Lady Lancers’ were rounded out by Hannah Godfrey and Sydney Cesare who both carded identical scores of 95, which was good for a top 20 finish.
The Lady Lancers will next be in action on April 1st as they tackle the Trine Invitational. They will then host a tournament at the McCormick Creek Golf Course on April 5th.
With the game scoreless through two innings, Marian (11-15, 5-9 CL) was poised to take the lead in the third. Grant Hartley fielded a hard-hit ball and made a perfect throw from his right field position to nab the runner at the plate attempting to score.
Grace (11-12, 3-9 CL) got things cooking in its half of the third. Maximo De Leon singled and Jeff Pawlik doubled to put both runners in scoring position. Austin Carr drove in the first run with an RBI groundout, and Sean Gannon plated the second run with his sacrifice fly.
Josh Cosme led off the fourth with a single and his courtesy runner, Keenan LeBlanc, came around to score on a De Leon RBI single. Austin Carr executed a beautiful bunt to plate De Leon to make the score 4-0.
Marian cut the deficit to two with a pair of runs in the fifth, but each time the Knights scored Grace had an answer.
Grace tacked on three runs in the sixth inning to increase the lead to five. Carr added two more RBIs with a single. Later, Sam Newkirk skied a popup behind first base that was difficult to judge in the windy conditions and dropped in for a double, allowing Pawlik to score.
The final three runs came from a two-RBI single from Newkirk and an RBI groundout from Bradyn McIntosh in the eighth.
Kyle Reinartz got the start on the mound for the Lancers and pitched 4.2 innings with a career-high nine strikeouts. Hunter Schumacher came on to finish the final 2.0 innings in a non-save situation. He collected four strikeouts to close out the 10-3 victory. Grace pitchers combined for 16 strikeouts in the game. Isaiah Herbster picked up the win in 1.1 of relief.
Five Lancer hitters recorded a multi-hit game. Pawlik reached safely in all five at-bats with two hits, two HBPs and a walk. Carr went 2 for 4 with four RBIs and a run and Newkirk was 2 for 4 with 3 RBIs and a walk.
Game two was a pitcher’s duel for most of the game. The scoreline read 1-1 after four innings.
The Knights tallied first with a run in the third, and Grace immediately responded with a run to keep pace.
After Caleb Davis toed the rubber to start game two, Tyler Yoder made his Lancer-debut in a high-pressure situation in the third. With one run in and one runner on, he was summoned from the bullpen to get the final out of the inning.
The Lancers broke open the game with a four-run fifth inning. Grace strung together a series of hits to load the bases for Pawlik. With a 2-1 count, he hit a towering drive to center that cleared the fence by some distance. The grand slam homerun sent the Grace dugout into a frenzy.
Sean Gannon capped off the scoring an inning later with a longball of his own to make it 6-1.
Sam Justice notched the win with 2.1 innings of relief, scattering two hits and striking out three batters.
Pawlik finished 2 for 3 with four RBIs and a run, and De Leon added one run on two hits with an RBI.
Grace will head to Mount Vernon to complete its series with the Cougars on Monday at 1 p.m.
Softball Drops Pair To Goshen
GOSHEN - Grace College’s softball team dropped a pair of road games to Goshen College on Friday afternoon.
The Lancers offense was muted by the Maple Leafs throughout the afternoon, being limited to one run in both contests.
In the second inning, Goshen drew first blood. The Maple Leafs took advantage of a lead-off walk to cross the first run of the game and capture a 1-0 lead.
Montana Brincks singled in the home half of the third inning, but Grace was unable to string together the needed hits to threaten offensively.
The Maple Leafs doubled their lead in their portion of the third as Goshen took advantage of a trio of hits. Three more Maple Leaf runs in the fourth inning seemed to blow the game open.
Bree Gardinier got the Lancers on the board in the fifth inning with her second home run of the season.
Grace was unable to find the needed offense late to pressure Goshen’s lead, falling 5-1 in the first game of the afternoon.
Kiersten Fickas and Alexis Bergman each went three innings in the circle and managed seven strikeouts between them.
In game number two, the Lancers threatened with a pair of first inning singles, but were unable to produce a go-ahead run.
Goshen then jumped out to a 2-0 lead after five batters reached base in the first inning.
Jeri Ellis worked scoreless innings in the second and third, but Grace was unable to close the gap.
Two more runs from the Maple Leafs in the fourth inning put the Lancers at a 4-0 disadvantage.
Grace would once again find its offense in the fifth inning. Brincks started things off with a lead off single and freshman Brenna Elgin moved her to third base with a double.
Ellis brought Brincks in to score and got credit for the RBI, but the Lancers rally stopped there.
Goshen responded with five runs in the home half of the inning to lay claim to the 9-1 victory.
The Lancers will be back in action on Monday as they travel to No. 6 Indiana Wesleyan on Monday afternoon.
Lady Lancers Win To Start Spring Season
ST. ANNE, Illinois. - Grace College’s women’s golf kicked off its spring season with a tournament win in the Spring Tiger Invite.
A few days after being voted into the NAIA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll, the Lady Lancers backed up their ranking with a dominant performance. Grace boasted a 33-stroke advantage over the second place finishers.
“This was a great win and a very nice way to start our spring season,” said Grace head coach Denny Duncan. “I am so proud of how these ladies performed in some very adverse weather conditions. They are a mentally tough group.”
Carolyn Pacocha led the way for the Lady Lancers as she tied for the overall medalist honors. The senior turned in a 18-hole score of 77 to pace Grace.
“I am so happy for Carolyn,” added Duncan. “To play this well on a day like today is obviously amazing, but for her to do it with so many of her friends and family present made it all that more special.”
Finishing just a few strokes behind Pacocha was fellow senior Summer Stillson. Stillson boasted the second best front-nine score of the afternoon and finished third overall with an overall round of 81.
Joining her teammates and becoming the third Grace player to place in the top five was Lucy Young. Young carded a round total 86, just one stroke off of fourth place.
Grace May also tallied a top-10 finish with a total of 88. May’s mark was good for eight overall.
Grace’s four top ten finishers was the most of anyone in the tournament.
The Lady Lancers’ were rounded out by Hannah Godfrey and Sydney Cesare who both carded identical scores of 95, which was good for a top 20 finish.
The Lady Lancers will next be in action on April 1st as they tackle the Trine Invitational. They will then host a tournament at the McCormick Creek Golf Course on April 5th.
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