Mt. Vernon wins opener over Grace
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio – Grace’s baseball team started its series at Mt. Vernon Nazarene with a loss, falling 10-0 on Friday.
The Lancers (12-17, 8-9 Crossroads League) were held to four hits in the nine-inning affair and were charged with four errors.
The Cougars (27-13, 10-6 CL), who are receiving votes in the NAIA poll, scored most of their runs during the span of three innings.
Mt. Vernon tallied four runs in the second inning, three runs in the third and two more in the fourth to take a commanding 9-0 lead.
Grace’s first hit came in the fourth inning after a leadoff single from RJ Snyder. Later in the inning, David Anderson reached third base, but he was stranded there with a strikeout.
In the next inning, Chris Griffin doubled on the first at-bat, but Grace was unable to move him past second.
The Lancers had chances to score throughout the game; Grace had a pair of baserunners in both the seventh and eighth innings, but again the Lancers came up empty.
Anderson batted 2 for 4 and also pitched 4 2/3 innings of relief. He allowed two runs on eight hits during that span.
Griffin had a walk and a hit, and Xavier Harris was hit by a pitch twice.
The Lancers still can claim the series win by sweeping a doubleheader on Saturday at Mt. Vernon. The games in Ohio start at 1 p.m.