HUNTINGTON, Ind. - Grace’s baseball team dropped a pair of games to finish its series against Huntington on Monday afternoon. The Lancers couldn’t find enough offense on the day, falling 6-3 and 8-2.
Maximo De Leon provided some excitement for the visitors by picking up his 48th career stolen base in the first game of the day. In just two seasons, he surpassed the all-time mark set back in 1967.
The Foresters jumped out to a five-run lead after one inning of play. After the early output from HU, the Lancer pitching staff settled in, allowing just four hits and one run the rest of the way.
Grace put a run on the board in the third frame. De Leon smacked a single and stole second before Matt Friesema drove him home.
De Leon picked up the record-setting stolen base in the fifth inning. He worked a two-out walk and swiped his second base of the day and 19th of the season.
The bats were held in check until the eighth inning when the Lancers added two runs to cut the deficit to three.
De Leon singled to start and later scored on a Friesema double to the gap in right. Austin Carr followed with an RBI single to plate another run. The rally was thwarted by a double play that ended the inning.
The Lancers couldn’t repeat the magic from Saturday’s come-from-behind effort, falling 6-3 in the opener.
Friesema contributed 2 hits, 2 RBIs and a run. Carr finished 2 for 4 with an RBI. De Leon supplied 2 hits, 2 runs, 2 stolen bases and a walk.
The Foresters used early run production in the nightcap to take a 4-0 advantage after two innings.
The Lancers halved the deficit with a pair of runs as part of a two-out rally in the third inning.
De Leon belted his fourth long ball of the year to get the first run. Friesema followed with a hit by pitch and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Carr produced the RBI with a single up the middle for the second run.
The Foresters, however, had a rebuttal in the bottom half to extend the lead to five. Grace was unable to get closer the rest of the way. Stingy pitching from the home team allowed just two walks and one hit the remainder of the game.
HU tacked on an insurance run in the fifth, leading to a final scoreline of 8-2.
De Leon capped off the day with a 2 for 3 effort with 2 hits, 1 RBI and 1 run.
The Lancers return home for their series against Saint Francis on April 19-20. Both doubleheaders are scheduled for 1 p.m. at Tom Roy - UPI Park.

Lancers Enjoy Stellar Second Round At Ackerman-Allen
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Grace’s men’s golf team produced a pair of solid rounds at Monday’s Ackerman-Allen Shootout.
The Lancers battled against 15 teams on Purdue’s course, showing steady improvement as the day progressed.
Grace combined to shoot 310 in the morning round. The team then proceeded to drop 20 strokes for a round of 290 to end the day.
Camron Jones shot 75 in the first round; he was even better in the second round with a score of 69, tying for sixth on the individual leaderboard. Jones had six birdies across the second round.
Matthew Shull was another steady hand, finishing with a scoreline of 73-76.
Isaac Embry had the biggest improvement. After finishing with an 82 in the morning, Embry ripped off a four-under 68, finishing with the best round of the day for Grace. He eagled twice during his sizzling second round.
Tristen Dubbs (80-77) and Luke Rosebrook (82-84) completed Grace’s scoring in the tournament.
The Lancers have a Senior Send-Off tournament scheduled for Saturday at Arbor Trace. Grace will then tackle the Sagamore Shootout on April 22 in the team’s final tuneup before the Crossroads League Championships.