Haney breaks doubles record against Taylor
WINONA LAKE, Ind. – In an otherwise forgettable afternoon, Grace’s baseball team celebrated an individual milestone on Monday.
Houston Haney launched an RBI double in the bottom of the first inning, giving the freshman 17 doubles for the year. He broke a 21-year-old record held by Brian Walta (1997) for most doubles in a single season.
The Lancers (8-32, 8-17 Crossroads League) lost 24-8 to Taylor at Miller Athletic Complex on Monday, but they still have a chance to secure a berth in the CL Tournament.
Grace hosts Bethel on Tuesday for a 1 p.m. doubleheader in the regular season finale. The Lancers can extend their season and clinch a spot in the league tournament by sweeping the rival Pilots on Tuesday.
Haney has ended the regular season on a tear, tallying 10 hits in the past six games with six doubles.
On Friday, the Trojans (40-12, 20-7 CL) plated in seven of the eight innings which included five multi-run innings. Taylor jumped ahead 4-0 after the top of the first.
Grace cut the lead in half during the bottom of the inning with a two-out rally. Austin Baker singled, and Haney hit his record-setting double for Grace’s first run. David Anderson followed that up with an RBI single.
But Taylor continued its offensive barrage, going ahead 13-1 after five innings.
The Lancers produced two home runs in the bottom of the seventh, but it was not enough to keep pace with Taylor. Baker hit the first blast, going over the center field fence to bring in Ackerman.
Spencer Mason and Anderson singled on the next two at-bats, and William Swisher belted a three-run bomb to right field for Grace’s fifth run of the inning.
Baker hit 4-of-5 with two runs and two RBIs, and Anderson was 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI.
Swisher finished 2-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs, and Ethan Brooks was 2-for-4 with a run driven in.