NC Indiana News

Grace ends season-opening weekend with win

Grace's softball team kicked off its 2023 campaign with a three-game series at Tennessee-Southern over the weekend.

The Lady Lancers went 1-2 across the series, ending the weekend on a high note with a win. All three games were closely contested with the winning margin being no more than three in each game. UTS won the first two games 9-6 and 8-7 before Grace won the finale 4-2.

The opening game of the series was packed with offense. The teams combined for 24 hits and 15 runs, including six extra-base hits.

The Firehawks jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, and Grace was unable to fully recover. UTS led 3-0 after two innings.

The Lady Lancers responded with six runs across the next four frames, but the Firehawks answered in kind with six runs as well.

Grace pulled within two runs on two occasions, but each time UTS countered with runs. The Firehawks shut down Grace in the final inning, as the Lady Lancers settled for the defeat.

Jeri Ellis hit 3 for 4 with two runs scored, and Bela Duran homered and had 2 hits, 2 RBIs and 1 run. Bree Gardinier and Cassie Hayes also had two hits and drove in a run.

Kierstin Fickas pitched a scoreless inning of relief and struck out two.

In the second game, it was Grace's turn to take the early lead. The Lady Lancers scored four runs in the first inning.

Grace began the game with three singles and a walk to score twice. Abbie Rymers and Kyrah Lewis then drove in two more runs to hand Grace an early lead.

In the second inning, Madi Brooks drew a bases-loaded walk to allow Ellis to jog home.

The Lady Lancers pushed their lead to 7-3 in the third inning. Ellis's sacrifice fly brought in Lewis, and Tia O'Connor's two-out single scored Duran.

But Grace's bats went quiet for the rest of the game. The Firehawks generated five runs over the next three frames to regain the lead at 8-7. Grace was retired 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh as UTS held on for the win.

Duran hit 3 for 5 from the leadoff position with two runs, Ellis was 2 for 5 with two runs, and O'Connor finished 2 for 3.

The final game produced Grace's first victory of the season. It was the lowest-scoring outing of the weekend.

Ellis was sensational from the mound. She threw a complete game, allowing just four hits and no walks with one earned run to lead Grace to victory.

UTS held a 1-0 lead through four innings, but the Lady Lancers sparked to life with three runs in the fifth.

Duran sat at second base with two outs after her double. Bree Gardinier then brought her home with a double, and Carly Ruiz provided a pinch-hit single to score two more.

The Firehawks pulled within one with a run in the bottom of the sixth, but Grace found an insurance run in the seventh.

Grace's plate discipline drew four walks, including three walks with two outs to push Grace's lead to 4-2.

The Firehawks had two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh, but Ellis escaped the jam with a strike out to hand Grace the victory.

Montana Brincks had a triple, two hits and an RBI in the win, and Hayes batted 2 for 3.

Gardinier scored two times, and Duran amassed 2 walks, 1 hit, 1 run and 1 stolen base.

Grace will play next on March 10-11 with a trip scheduled to Kentucky to take on Brescia.

Original source can be found here.