Grace takes one in series finale
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio – Grace’s baseball team picked up a split against Mount Vernon on Monday afternoon, taking the finale of the series against the Cougars.
In the opener, the Lancers (12-13, 4-10 CL) held a brief lead at 1-0, but the Cougars (10-12, 7-9 CL) plated four runs to move ahead 4-1 after two innings played.
Grace was able to claw back a run in the fifth with a leadoff single from Bradyn McIntosh and an RBI single from Josh Cosme.
Mount Vernon tacked on three runs in the sixth to extend the lead to 7-2.
Grace would get within three after a two run seventh inning. Grant Hartley walked and moved into scoring position when Cosme tallied his second hit of the game. Maximo De Leon smacked a triple to clear the bases, but that would be the final run of the game for the Lancers.
Grace threatened to cut into the lead in the final frame with a pair of baserunners with two outs, but the Cougars were able to get through the inning unscathed.
De Leon had a productive game at the plate with 3 hits, 2 RBIs, and a stolen base. Cosme chipped in 2 hits, a walk, and an RBI.
Grace jumped out to an early 3-0, benefitting from a pair of Cougar miscues to start game two.
Sean Gannon drove in Sam Newkirk, who reached via error, to open the scoring. Two batters later, John Joyce’s fly ball to left was misplayed allowing Keenan LeBlanc to score. The final run of the inning crossed the plate on a Josh Cosme single.
The Lancers upped their lead to four in the third stanza. De Leon led off with a double, and Austin Carr contributed a sacrifice fly to bring him home.
Grace’s bats were kept at bay over the final four innings, with just two runners reaching base.
Mount Vernon plated runs in the third and sixth innings to draw within two, but lefthander Steven Hernandez pitched 4.1 innings of relief to close out the game and secure the 4-2 victory.
Trevor Yoder, making his second appearance of the year on the mound, notched the win.
De Leon led the way for Grace with two hits and a run. Gannon added a 1 for 3 game with an RBI.
Grace will begin a four-game series on the road at Goshen later this week. The first set of games will be on Thursday March 30 starting at 1 p.m.