Grace slips to Knights twice
WINONA LAKE, Ind. – Grace’s baseball team came up short against Marian on Monday in a doubleheader at Miller Athletic Complex.
The Lancers (13-22, 9-14 Crossroads League) lost 9-0 in the first game and 6-4 in the second outing.
Grace struggled to find its offense in the opener. The Lancers were held to just three hits in the seven-inning game.
Marian, on the other hand, was efficient. The Knights (22-17, 14-9 CL) scored nine runs on 10 hits, benefitting from a trio of Grace errors as well.
The Lancers fell behind 4-0 after two innings, and Grace could never produce a comeback. In the fourth, Grace’s first two batters reached base safely but were stranded on three straight at-bats.
Jacob Sapp hit 1 for 2, and David Anderson and Mitchell Enyart also recorded a hit.
Anderson was credited with the loss despite throwing out seven batters in the first 3 1/3 innings on the mound. Josh Tew finished the game, striking out five batters and giving up two earned runs in 3 2/3 innings.
In the second game, Marian threatened early with four hits in the first two innings. But starting pitcher Houston Haney held the Knights to one run through three innings.
Grace tied the game in the second with a two-out rally. Sam Newkirk hit a two-out triple, and Hunter Ackerman drove him in with a single up the middle.
Marian scored again in the fourth to make the score 2-2, but the Lancers had another push in the fifth.
Jacob Sapp and Anderson led off the fifth inning with singles. Xavier Harris drove in the first run with a single, and Chris Griffin’s single brought in Anderson for a 4-2 lead.
Grace’s lead held until the top of the seventh. Marian put up three runs on four hits to move ahead 5-4. The Knights tacked on another run in the eighth for a 6-4 margin.
The Lancers were unable to produce a comeback, stranding their lone baserunner at first base to end the game.
Harris hit 2 for 4 with an RBI, and Anderson was 2 for 5 with two runs scored. Ackerman tallied 1 hit, 1 stolen base and 1 RBI, and Griffin finished 1 for 3 with a run driven in.
Logan Swartzentruber pitched the final 1 2/3 inning, allowing two hits and no runs.
The Lancers end the series with Marian on Tuesday at home, squaring off at 3 p.m. in a single nine-inning affair.
