Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
FORT WAYNE -ÊNicole Chessum threw a two-hit shutout against No. 16 Bethel Saturday, the best pitching performance for the Grace College softball team this year. But Rachel Liebsch matched that outing Wednesday, throwing a two-hitter against St. Francis in the first game of a doubleheader sweep of the cougars.
Liebsch pitched seven shutout innings, striking out four and allowing just one runner to reach second base. The Lancers broke a 0-0 tie in the fifth inning by scoring six times as Kelli Irish, Shannon Haskins and Christina Clark hit back-to-back-to-back doubles. Grace added three runs in the sixth for a 9-0 win.
The Lancers completed the sweep by defeating the Cougars 8-7 in game two. Chessum, who was named Mid-Central Conference Pitcher of the Week last week, struggled at times, but still recorded the win and struck out seven batters.
Grace (5-11, 3-5 MCC) will host Marian today at 3 p.m. and is now on a three-game win streak.
GRACE 9, ST. FRANCIS 0
Grace 000 063 - 9 9 0
St. Francis 000 000 - 0 2 3
WP -ÊRachel Liebsch. LP -ÊLund.
Grace leaders -ÊKelli Irish 2 for 4, 2B, 3 RBIs, 2R, SB; Shannon Haskins 2 for 3 2B, 3 RBIs, R; Christina Clark 2 for 4, 2B, 2 RBI, R.
GRACE 8, ST FRANCIS 7
Grace 013 301 0 - 8 14 7
St. Francis 000 410 2 - 7 4 2
WP -ÊNicole Chessum. LP -ÊBoals.
Grace leaders -ÊTami Romagnoli 3 for 5, RBI, 2B (3), 2R; Elicia Defreez 2 for 4, 2B, RBI, SB; Rachel Liebsch 2 for 4, RBI, R, 2B.
Thursday in Bluffton, Ohio
MANCHESTER 2, BLUFFTON 1
BLUFFTON 6, MANCHESTER 5
The Manchester College softball team split a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader with Bluffton College Thursday in two extra-inning games. The Spartans won the first game 2-1, and fell 6-5 in the second.
The first game was scoreless until the sixth inning when sophomore Kelly Haughs started a Manchester rally that led to one run. Bluffton fought back with a run of its own, but Haughs knocked in teammate Cathy Bounds in the top of the eighth to give Manchester the win. Nicholette Gasior (6-3) earned the win on the mound.
Game two was similar to game one in that the score was tied in the seventh inning, 5-5. However, Bluffton scored the winning run of the contest on a shot up the middle. Manchester's Nichi Zechar (5-3) took the loss on the mound.
"In both games we fought back, and that was good to see," said Manchester coach Martha Judge. "We've been doing it all year. Bluffton is a tough team; it was good to get the split."
Manchester is now 11-11 on the season and will host Huntington Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.
MANCHESTER 2, BLUFFTON 1, 8 innings
Manchester 000 001 01 - 2 8 0
Bluffton 000 000 10 - 1 6 0
WP - Nicholette Gasior LP -ÊErin Kurtz
Manchester leaders -ÊKelly Phelps 2 for 3; Kelly Haughs 3 for 4, R, SB, RBI
BLUFFTON 6, MANCHESTER 5, 9 innings
Manchester 002 020 100 - 5 12 3
Bluffton 002 300 001 - 6 6 0
WP - Emily Kurtz. LP -ÊNichi Zechar
Manchester leaders -ÊKelly Phelps 2 for 5, 2B (2), 2RBIs; Kelly Haughs 2 for 5, 2R, 2B (2); Tasha Elliot 2 for 4, run
BASEBALL
Thursday in Winona Lake
MARIAN 15, GRACE 0
MARIAN 15, GRACE 5
The Grace College baseball team was swept by Marian College Thursday 15-0 and 15-5.
The first game went just five innings as Marian scored eight times in the first inning and added four more in the third.
In game two, Mike Cox hit a solo home run in the first and Steve Walta hit another in the sixth. But Marian finished the gamein the sixth inning by scoring four times.
MARIAN 15, GRACE 0
Marian 814 02 - 15 17 0
Grace 000 00 - 0 1 3
Grace leader -ÊKenny Jennings 1 for 2
MARIAN 15, GRACE 5
Marian 216 024 - 15 15 0
Grace 110 111 - 5 9 5
Grace leaders - Mike Cox 2 for 3, HR, RBI; Steve Walta 2 for 3, 2B, HR, RBI, 2 runs
