MISHAWAKA, Ind. — With the battle for the eighth seed of the Crossroads League Tournament hanging in the balance, the Bethel Pilots (11-33, 6-28) battled but were swept by the Grace Lancers (16-30, 10-24) in the first doubleheader of the series.
GAME 1
It was a pitching duel between Frank Plesac and Owen Kirchenstein through the first three innings tied 1-1. Grace struck first with a one-out solo home run at the top of the first, and Elijah Gaines roped in a run from an RBI single to the center.
Maximo de Leon walked in the top of the sixth and made it to third from a stolen base attempt, with the throw going wide and putting de Leon in position for being scored on an RBI single to center and take the lead 2-1.
Grace grew its lead with another solo home run in the top of the seventh, followed by an RBI single in the top of the eighth, to 4-1.
Jordan Landkrohn answered with a big two-run home run to spring life back into the Pilots and climb to 4-3.
Grace tacked on one more insurance run from an RBI single in the top of the ninth, but Andrew Dillon scored Gaines from an error by the third baseman but couldn’t capitalize on a first and third situation with no outs and the Pilots fell 5-4.
Frank Plesac threw 7.2 innings and allowed six hits, four runs, two walks, and struck out five batters.
GAME 2
The Lancers put up a three spot in the top of the third frame from an RBI single and a two-run home run.
Jesse Stout roped a sacrifice fly to left in the bottom of the third to bring in Elijah Gaines to put a run on the board 3-1.
Grace scored their fourth run in the top of the fourth to grow to 4-1, but Thomas Dolan brought the Pilots within two from an RBI double to plate Quaid Mull in the sixth and Gaines scored after an error from the shortstop allowed him to go to third then scored on the throw to get to 4-3, but couldn’t get over the hump.
NEXT TIME OUT
The Pilots will play their final two games of the series and the season at Jenkins Stadium with first pitch slated for 1 p.m. and the Bethel Sports Network pregame show with Paul Condry starting at 12:40 p.m.