Lady Lancers lose twice to Taylor
WINONA LAKE, Ind. – Grace’s softball team, playing its sixth straight game against a ranked opponent, was swept in a doubleheader by Taylor on Tuesday.
The Lady Lancers fell 4-3 and 8-0 at Coach Phil Dick Field to Taylor, who is receiving votes in the NAIA.
In the opener, Grace had almost twice as many hits as Taylor. But the Lady Lancers came up short on the scoreboard by one run.
The Lady Lancers (9-29, 5-21 Crossroads League) owned a 9-5 advantage in hits but trailed most of the game. Grace also left seven baserunners stranded in the game.
The Trojans (28-10, 20-6 CL) scored three runs on just two hits in the top of the second; Taylor scored its runs thanks to 2 doubles, 1 walk and 2 wild pitches in an efficient inning.
Grace struggled to get on the scoreboard. The Lady Lancers had a hit in each of the first four innings, but each time Grace left that runner on base.
In the top of the sixth, Taylor added an insurance run which turned out to be crucial.
In the bottom of the sixth, Grace responded with three runs of its own. Taylor Asher and Bethany Gardner had RBI singles in the inning, and Hannah Harless drove in Morgan Tapscott with another ground ball.
Grace still had two runners in scoring position in the sixth, but the inning ended with an infield pop out.
Olivia Scarbrough reached base and moved to third with a wild pitch and a ground ball. But the potential tying run was left at third with a strikeout.
Scarbrough and Britney Young both batted 2 for 4 with a run scored, and Asher hit 2 for 3 with an RBI. Andrea Castillo also was 1 for 2 with a sacrifice hit.
Erin Lawhon pitched a clean final two innings, giving up just one hit with two strikeouts.
In the second game, a late outburst by Taylor ended the game after six innings.
The contest was scoreless through three innings, but the Trojans had threatened. Taylor moved a runner into scoring position in each of the first three innings, but each time Dori Knight was able to end the threat from the mound.
In the top of the fourth, Taylor finally broke through with a pair of runs. The score quickly grew in the fifth after a Taylor grand slam.
The Trojans ended the game early by pulling ahead 8-0 in the top of the sixth, and Grace was not able to extend the game with a run in the bottom of the frame.
Sam Heim hit 2 for 3 from the leadoff position with a double, and Scarbrough was 1 for 2 with a sacrifice hit.
The Lady Lancers are back home on Wednesday, hosting Spring Arbor at 3 p.m. at Coach Phil Dick Field.
