Grace Softball Squad Splits
HUNTINGTON – The Grace College softball team took part in an offensive showdown on Thursday with Huntington University as the teams combined for 36 runs in two games.
The Lady Lancers (16-22; 12-10 Crossroads League) won 11-8 in a 12-inning thriller in the opening game before the Foresters rallied to take the second game, 10-7.
Grace claimed a 7-0 lead in the opener after a five-run outburst in the third inning. Hannah Adams hit a two-run homer in the second, and Chelsea Whitesell doubled to score two runs in the third.
The Foresters (20-15; 13-9 CL) slowly chipped away at Grace’s cushion. Huntington scored twice in the third and fifth innings and once in the sixth. The Foresters finally tied the score in the seventh inning with a two-out triple that scored two runs to tie the game at 7-7.
The first four extra innings came up empty for both sides, although each team had strong chances to score. Grace finally broke the 7-7 deadlock in a big way during the 12th inning. Olivia Winget lofted a two-run homer to left field to score Alex Shipley. Adams, Tiffany Featherston and Brittany Melzoni then doubled to plate two more runs.
Huntington added one more run in the bottom of the inning, but the Foresters were unable to erase Grace’s cushion. Adams finished 4-for-6 with three runs and three RBIs, Winget was 3-for-5 with three runs scored, and Featherston had three hits and two runs.
In the second game, Huntington erupted for 10 runs on 17 hits. While Grace scored seven runs on 11 hits, the Lady Lancers also committed four fielding errors to allow three unearned runs to plate.
The Lady Lancers led 6-1 after their half of the third inning, but the Foresters dominated the later stages of the game to win by three.
Brooke Shell starred at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two stolen bases and two runs. Melzoni and Clarissa Knight scored twice, and reigning NCCAA National Player of the Week Samantha Johnson batted 2-for-4.
Grace concludes the week on Friday with a home series against Mt. Vernon Nazarene. First pitch at Miller Field is set for noon.