WINONA LAKE, Ind. - The stretch run for Grace’s baseball team has been filled with records being broken and milestones being accomplished. In the doubleheader against Bethel on Thursday afternoon, Ryan Stark broke the 43-year old single-season RBI record (42). Evan Etchison became the first pitcher in program history to reach 300 strikeouts. The team tied the record for most wins in a season (21). All while locking up a spot in the conference tournament, splitting the day with a 12-6 win and a narrow 7-6 defeat.
The Lancers pounded out 15 hits in the opener which translated to 12 runs. Two big innings gave the home team all the momentum they needed to take control of the game.
Each team scored a run in their first time at the plate, but the first big inning came in the third when Grace touched the Pilots for five runs.
The Lancers loaded the bases early in the inning before Jose Ayala broke the tie with a sacrifice fly. Carter Stogsdill forced the defense into an errant throw when he stole second, allowing a run to score. Grant Hartley followed that sequence with a two-run home run. The last run of the rally came after a pair of walks and an RBI single from Mason Wire.
The Pilots clawed back two runs the next inning, but the Lancers scored one of their own to maintain separation until the next big inning.
The four-run sixth gave the home team an 11-3 advantage. The bases were loaded once again when Ayala had his RBI single and Hartley tagged a two-RBI double to right. John Joyce capped off the inning with a sac fly.
Bethel scored three runs in the seventh compared to one for Grace, but the margin was still in favor of the home team heading into the final two innings.
Etchison notched his 300th career strikeout in the second inning when he fanned two. He pitched 6.0 innings on his way to earning his sixth win of the season. Steen Bellerjeau and Kyle Showley combined to pitch 3.0 innings of scoreless relief.
Five batters recorded multi-hit games with Stark and Dalton Cody getting three hits apiece. Hartley added four RBIs on two hits.
The win in game one put the Lancers level with the record for most wins in a single season at 21 and secured a spot in the conference tournament.
The second game of the day was close throughout. The Pilots scored two to claim a one-run advantage after one full inning of play. Each team scored three runs in the third, keeping the margin at one through three. Neither team would score again until the final inning. At which time, they would each score two with the Pilots holding the 7-6 lead after the final out.
Grace’s first run of the game came via the long ball. Stark belted his 16th roundtripper of the year in the first frame. His 42nd RBI made him the single-season leader, a record held by Greg Straits since 1982.
After the Pilots scored three, the Lancers responded with three in the third. Maximo De Leon drove in Wire to start the scoring. Later in the inning, Josh Cosme deposited a two-run shot over the wall in left.
Two insurance runs for Bethel came in the top of the seventh. Those runs would prove to be the difference as Grace plated two runs in the bottom half.
The Lancers put the pressure on in the final inning. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases with one out. Cody had a fielder’s choice to plate the first run and Stark hit an RBI single to left. With the winning run on second, a fly out ended the game.
Stark led the way with 3 hits, 2 RBIs and 2 runs; Cosme finished 1 for 4 with 2 RBIs and 1 run.
Reinartz struck out seven batters in his 5.2 innings of work on the mound.
The Lancers will close out the regular season with a doubleheader against the Pilots on Saturday afternoon. The team will celebrate Senior Day between games, honoring a large senior class. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.