Lancer Baseball Gets 20th Win, Topple Trinity Christian
April 23, 2025 at 4:10 p.m.
PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. - Grace’s baseball team earned its 20th win of the season, leading wire to wire against Trinity Christian in its final non-conference contest of the year. The 7-4 win gives the Lancers their second 20-win season under head coach Ryan Roth, who earned his 100th career victory earlier this year.
From the first inning onward, Grace (20-26, 11-21 CL) was in control of the scoreboard. The visitors manufactured the first run of the game in their first at bat with textbook execution. Maximo De Leon earned a leadoff walk, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, stole third and scored on a ground ball to the shortstop.
The Lancers loaded the bases in the second with the lone run of the inning coming on a sac fly from John Joyce.
The next at bat included two more runs touching home. Grace took advantage of wild pitching that was partnered with solid hitting to make it 4-0 after three innings played. Three walks, an RBI double from Jose Ayala and a passed ball accounted for two runs.
The Lancers stretched the lead to seven with three runs in the seventh frame. This time, defensive miscues from the Trolls aided in the run scoring opportunities. Throwing errors on Bradyn McIntosh and Alex Rudolph’s grounders allowed a trio of runs to score.
Trinity Christian wasn’t ready to go away. The home team scored two runs in back-to-back innings to close the gap heading into the final inning. The deficit, however, would stay at three with Kyle Showley shutting down the ninth to get the save.
Joey Diaz picked up the win on the mound, and his effort on the mound was sensational throughout. He took a perfect game into the seventh inning before running into minor trouble. He fanned eight batters in 7.0 innings of work. Aiden McSherry pitched the eighth before Showley finished the game.
Ayala had the only multi-hit game for Grace, going 3 for 5 with 1 RBI and 3 runs. McIntosh and Carter Stogsdill each finished with 1 hit and 1 run.
The Lancers head into the final homestand of the year with a three-game lead in the league standings for the final spot in the conference tournament. The regular-season finale against Bethel is set to begin on Thursday at 1 p.m., culminating with Senior Day on Saturday at 1 p.m at Tom Roy - UPI Park.
Late Home Run Not Enough As Grace Falters Vs MVNU
MOUNT VERNON, Ind. - Grace College’s softball team came up just short in Tuesday’s doubleheader against Mount Vernon.
The Lancers (7-32-1, 3-30-1 Crossroads League) dropped the opener 14-2 and despite a late two-run home run from Bree Gradinier in game two Grace came up a run short, falling 3-2.
Grace struck first in the first game in the second inning. Bella Duran got on base and advanced to second with two outs and Daylie Rickard had an RBI single to push the Lancers ahead 1-0.
The lead was short lived however as MVNU (23-16, 16-14 CL) exploded for 10 runs in the bottom of the inning to take a commanding lead in the game.
Tia O’Connor got a run back for the Lancers in the third inning with a single to center that scored Montana Brincks but Grace was unable to overcome the deficit, as they ultimately fell 14-2.
Game two proved to be a defensive showcase with both sides combining for just three hits through the first three innings of play.
The Cougars finally broke the deadlock in the bottom of the fourth and both teams went down quietly in the fifth frame.
Grace’s first two batters were retired to start the second inning, but a single from Rickard set the plate for Gardinier. The senior blasted her sixth home run of the season to push the Lancers into a 2-1 lead. The home run puts her in fifth place for single season home runs at Grace. She is already in second place for career home runs.
MVNU used a two-out rally in the bottom of the inning to recapture the lead and escaped the final inning unscathed as they claimed the 3-2 victory.
Izzy Waddle got the start in the circle for the Lancers in game two and pitched six innings while allowing nine hits and just three runs.Gardinier had two hits.
Grace will finish out their season on Saturday as they play Bethel at 1pm. The Lancers will be looking to complete the season sweep over the Pilots.
PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. - Grace’s baseball team earned its 20th win of the season, leading wire to wire against Trinity Christian in its final non-conference contest of the year. The 7-4 win gives the Lancers their second 20-win season under head coach Ryan Roth, who earned his 100th career victory earlier this year.
From the first inning onward, Grace (20-26, 11-21 CL) was in control of the scoreboard. The visitors manufactured the first run of the game in their first at bat with textbook execution. Maximo De Leon earned a leadoff walk, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, stole third and scored on a ground ball to the shortstop.
The Lancers loaded the bases in the second with the lone run of the inning coming on a sac fly from John Joyce.
The next at bat included two more runs touching home. Grace took advantage of wild pitching that was partnered with solid hitting to make it 4-0 after three innings played. Three walks, an RBI double from Jose Ayala and a passed ball accounted for two runs.
The Lancers stretched the lead to seven with three runs in the seventh frame. This time, defensive miscues from the Trolls aided in the run scoring opportunities. Throwing errors on Bradyn McIntosh and Alex Rudolph’s grounders allowed a trio of runs to score.
Trinity Christian wasn’t ready to go away. The home team scored two runs in back-to-back innings to close the gap heading into the final inning. The deficit, however, would stay at three with Kyle Showley shutting down the ninth to get the save.
Joey Diaz picked up the win on the mound, and his effort on the mound was sensational throughout. He took a perfect game into the seventh inning before running into minor trouble. He fanned eight batters in 7.0 innings of work. Aiden McSherry pitched the eighth before Showley finished the game.
Ayala had the only multi-hit game for Grace, going 3 for 5 with 1 RBI and 3 runs. McIntosh and Carter Stogsdill each finished with 1 hit and 1 run.
The Lancers head into the final homestand of the year with a three-game lead in the league standings for the final spot in the conference tournament. The regular-season finale against Bethel is set to begin on Thursday at 1 p.m., culminating with Senior Day on Saturday at 1 p.m at Tom Roy - UPI Park.
Late Home Run Not Enough As Grace Falters Vs MVNU
MOUNT VERNON, Ind. - Grace College’s softball team came up just short in Tuesday’s doubleheader against Mount Vernon.
The Lancers (7-32-1, 3-30-1 Crossroads League) dropped the opener 14-2 and despite a late two-run home run from Bree Gradinier in game two Grace came up a run short, falling 3-2.
Grace struck first in the first game in the second inning. Bella Duran got on base and advanced to second with two outs and Daylie Rickard had an RBI single to push the Lancers ahead 1-0.
The lead was short lived however as MVNU (23-16, 16-14 CL) exploded for 10 runs in the bottom of the inning to take a commanding lead in the game.
Tia O’Connor got a run back for the Lancers in the third inning with a single to center that scored Montana Brincks but Grace was unable to overcome the deficit, as they ultimately fell 14-2.
Game two proved to be a defensive showcase with both sides combining for just three hits through the first three innings of play.
The Cougars finally broke the deadlock in the bottom of the fourth and both teams went down quietly in the fifth frame.
Grace’s first two batters were retired to start the second inning, but a single from Rickard set the plate for Gardinier. The senior blasted her sixth home run of the season to push the Lancers into a 2-1 lead. The home run puts her in fifth place for single season home runs at Grace. She is already in second place for career home runs.
MVNU used a two-out rally in the bottom of the inning to recapture the lead and escaped the final inning unscathed as they claimed the 3-2 victory.
Izzy Waddle got the start in the circle for the Lancers in game two and pitched six innings while allowing nine hits and just three runs.Gardinier had two hits.
Grace will finish out their season on Saturday as they play Bethel at 1pm. The Lancers will be looking to complete the season sweep over the Pilots.