WINONA LAKE – The Grace College baseball team had one of its finest spring break trips in recent memory thanks to an explosive offense under first-year head coach Bill Barr.

The Lancers’ start of 7-3 is the team’s best opening record since 2010.

Grace split doubleheaders against both Trinity Christian and Trinity International in Winterhaven, Fla., including an impressive 15-5 drubbing of Trinity International on March 6.

Calumet College of St. Joseph proved to be little opposition to Grace, falling 9-3 and 9-0 to the Lancers on March 4.

The Lancers have averaged 8.0 runs per game, which ranks No. 5 in the NAIA, while batting .339 as a team over the first 10 games (No. 11 in NAIA).

The two-headed offensive monster of sophomore Joey Hickerson and junior Jacob Bloom has highlighted Grace’s start. Hickerson leads the nation in hits per game (2.0/game) and runs per game (1.6/game). He is currently batting .500 with a team-best three home runs and seven stolen bases.

Bloom boasts a robust .576 batting average to rank No. 2 in the NAIA. He has blasted out four doubles, two triples and a home run, and his 2.2 RBIs per game tops the nation. He notched seven RBIs in Grace’s 15-5 win over Trinity International.

Hickerson and Bloom are both former players at Warsaw Community High School.

Jeff Himes (.400 batting average) and Tyler Weber (.316 average) have also been major contributors to Grace’s offense.

From the mound, seniors Matt Helm and Clifford Buttermore have led the pitching staff. Helm’s 1.38 ERA is the team’s best mark, and Buttermore has posted a 2.45 ERA in 22 innings pitched. Buttermore struck out 13 batters in a one-run, eight-inning gem against Cairn University on March 10.

Hickerson has been strong in the pitching rotation as well with a 3.21 ERA in two appearances, and Dellos Schabel has a 3.72 ERA in three relief appearances.

Grace is scheduled to open its Crossroads League season on Thursday with a doubleheader at Mount Vernon Nazarene. The Lancers’ home opener is set for Tuesday at 2 p.m. against Indiana Wesleyan.