College Roundup

FORT WAYNE -ÊThe Grace College baseball team opened Mid-Central Conference action with a doubleheader split against St. Francis Tuesday.

The Cougars beat Grace 6-0 in the opener, but the Lancers bounced back with a 5-2 victory in game two.

In game one, St. Francis scored three runs in the second and three in the third for all the scoring. The Lancers were held to just four hits, while the Cougars had just six.

In game two, St. Francis led 1-0 in the top of the fifth when the Lancers exploded for four runs. The Lancers got four hits in the inning, including a double from Thom Newhard and a triple from Mike Cox to take a 4-1 lead. Grace added an insurance run in the sixth as Steve Walta drove home Thomas Boyd. Dustin Christean pitched a complete game for the Lancers, striking out eight batters.

Grace improves to 6-6 overall and 1-1 in the MCC. The Lancers have won 5 of 7 and will play at Marian at 1 p.m. Thursday. Marian currently leads the MCC at 5-0 in conference play.

ST. FRANCIS 6, GRACE 0

Grace 000 000 0 - 0 4 4

St. Francis 033 000 x - 6 6 1

WP - Middleton; LP -ÊMike Pressley (0-2)

Grace batters -ÊJohn Kessinger 1 for 3, 3B; Thom Newland 2 for 3

GRACE 5, ST. FRANCIS 2

Grace 000 041 0 - 5 9 1

St. Francis 001 010 0 - 2 6 0

WP - Dustin Christean (1-1); LP -ÊScherer

Grace batters -ÊGreg Hannah 2 for 4, R RBI; Mike Cox 2 for 3, 3B, RBI; Thomas Boyd 1 for 2, 2 R; John Kessinger 2 for 2, R SB

SOFTBALL

MANCHESTER 6, DEFIANCE 2

DEFIANCE 7, MANCHESTER 4

Tuesday in Defiance, Ohio

Behind Nicolette Gasior's pitching, the Spartans won the first game 6-2. Kirstie Warner and Brooke Phelps each went 2 for 3 at the plate to lead the Spartans.

In the second game, Defiance scored four runs early in the first and second innings. Kelly Phelps led the Spartans with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate.

Manchester is 3-9 on the season and will host Dominican at 1 p.m. Saturday.

MANCHESTER 6, DEFIANCE 2

Manchester 014 000 1 - 6 12 1

Defiance 000 000 2 - 2 7 3

WP -ÊNicolette Gasior; LP -ÊAnna Fretz

Manchester batters -ÊKirstie Warner 2 for 3, RBI; Brooke Phelps 2 for 3, R; Kelly Phelps 2 for 4; Emilie Blough 2 for 4, RBI; Becky Moening 2B, 3 RBI

DEFIANCE 7, MANCHESTER 4

Manchester 000 001 3 - 4 8 5

Defiance 130 102 x - 7 10 1

WP -ÊSarah Harman; LP -ÊNichi Zechar

Manchester batters -ÊKelly Phelps 3 for 4, R, RBI, SB; Nicholette Gasior 2 for 4, RBI; Brooke Phelps 1 for 3, RBI; Alicia Ladewski 1 for 3