Danforth claims single-season hit record in win
WINONA LAKE, Ind. – Patrick Danforth set a program record on Tuesday for Grace’s baseball team.
Danforth recorded his 59th hit of the season during Grace’s 7-2 win over IU Kokomo; that mark broke Grace’s program record for most hits in a season.
The previous record of 58 hits was set by Josh Bailey in 1998.
Danforth tied the record with an RBI single in the second inning, and he broke the mark with another RBI in the seventh.
Grace wasted little time getting on the scoreboard on a brisk Tuesday afternoon.
Chris Griffin jump started Grace’s offense with a three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning.
The Lancers tacked on two more runs in the second inning, scoring both with two outs. Danforth and Jeff Pawlik provided back-to-back RBI singles with two outs, lifting the Lancers to an early 5-1 edge.
Grace tacked on another run in the third; Cal Curiel provided a single to allow Austin Carr to race home.
The only other run occurred in the seventh inning courtesy of the milestone man Danforth. With two outs in the inning and Cameron Woehnker on second base, Danforth laced a single to right-center field to bring in Woehnker and secure his place in the record books.
The Lancers’ pitching and defense took care of the rest. Grace kept the Cougars (25-18) off the scoreboard for the final five innings, making quick work of IUK’s bats.
It was a bullpen game for Grace; the Lancers threw seven pitchers with no one going more than two innings.
Evan Etchison began the game and struck out the side in his lone inning. Hunter Schumacher struck out a pair during his inning of work.
Mason Meyer and Jake Cox each pitched two scoreless innings to conclude the game; Meyer threw the sixth and seventh frames, and Cox pitched the eighth and ninth.
Caleb Farney, Joey Springer and Jake Decker also pitched for the Lancers.
Alex Rich had three hits and two stolen bases in the victory; he moved his single-season hit tally to 58 as well in the game, tying the previous mark for most hits in a season.
Curiel finished 3 for 5 with 1 run, 1 RBI and 1 stolen base, and Carr hit 2 for 4 with a run scored.
The win moves Grace’s record to 17-29; the team’s 17 wins are tied for the fourth-most in team history.
The Lancers will end the regular season this week with a four-game series at Taylor. The series will be held on Thursday and Friday with both doubleheaders beginning at 3 p.m.