MISHAWAKA, Ind. — The Bethel Pilots Softball team fell in two hard-fought games at home to the Grace Lancers 4-3 in a 12-inning affair and 4-1 in the nightcap.
GAME 1
It was a pitching duel through nine straight innings for Bethel’s Ryann Norris and Grace’s Jeri Ellis. The Pilots had two chances with runners in scoring position in the bottom of the fourth and fifth to break the silence but couldn’t quite push a run home.
Grace broke the silence in the 10th inning with a pair of RBI singles and an error to plate three runs. The Pilots answered in the bottom of the frame with an RBI single by Mackenzie Navarrete, Alyssa Forys forcing an error, and Emmie Pugh ripping a sacrifice fly to right field to tie the game and force an 11th inning, where the Lancers hit in the winning run, 4-3.
Despite the loss, Ryann Norris threw an impressive 128-pitch game for 11 innings, allowing 10 hits, four runs (two earned), no walks, and three strikeouts. Pugh was the only Pilot with a multi-hit game going 3-for-4 at the plate with one RBI.
GAME 2
The first two frames were quiet again until the Lancers scored two in the top of the third on a two-RBI double, followed up in the fourth inning with an RBI single to make it 3-0 going into the fifth inning.
Grace scored another insurance run in the top of the fifth inning on another RBI double that plated their fourth run.
Bethel got on the board by a Pugh sacrifice fly but would ultimately fall in the nightcap 4-1.
Hannah Frady fought hard in her seven-inning bout, allowing four runs on eight hits and only walked one batter.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Both Pilot pitchers only allowed six earned runs in both games.
Kate Cooper and Emmie Pugh had a multi-hit game against Grace.
THE HOMESTAND CONTINUES
Bethel will face their first ranked opponent of the season to conclude the eight-game homestand in the RV Mount Vernon Nazarene Cougars on Friday, Mar. 24, at Gardner Field for a 3 p.m. first pitch for the doubleheader.