Grace’s Offense Erupts In Sweep Of Maple Leafs
GOSHEN, Ind. – An eruption. An explosion. An outburst. Whatever you want to call it, Grace’s offense had it during the Lady Lancers’ sweep of Goshen on Saturday.
Grace’s softball team enjoyed 22 runs and 28 hits over the doubleheader as the Lady Lancers won 11-10 and 11-3.
In the opening game, the teams took turns matching each other on the scoreboard. Grace struck first with two runs in the first inning after Chandler Elliott blasted a two-run double. But the Maple Leafs countered with two runs to tie the score in the bottom of the inning.
Grace and Goshen each scored a run in the second, and Grace added two more in the fourth off the bat of Clarissa Knight. The Maple Leafs thought they had gained separated in their half of the fourth with a five-run outburst to pull ahead 8-5.
But the Lady Lancers were far from finished with six more runs in the top of the fifth. Ashley Kleinbub and Hannah Adams led off the inning with back-to-back doubles, and Kati Gregory, Alex Shipley and Samantha Johnson singled on the next three at-bats. Knight and Elliott drove in the final three runs of the inning with consecutive two-out singles to put the Lady Lancers ahead 11-8.
Goshen pulled back within one at 11-10 after plating two in the fifth, and Elliott handled the rest from the mound. The freshman hurler kept Goshen from finding the game-tying run over the last two innings, tossing the final 3.1 innings in relief. She also batted 3-for-5 with three RBIs.
Alex Shipley batted 3-for-4 with two runs, and Knight drove in three runs with two hits. Brooke Shell also plated three times and notched two hits.
In the second game, Grace scored early and often. Shell was a one-player wrecking crew on offense, leading Grace with a perfect 4-for-4 performance from the leadoff position. She drove in four runs, scored twice and even stole a base.
Grace ripped off five runs over the first two innings then added six more in the fourth.
Incredibly, Grace blasted three home runs in one inning during the fourth. Knight belted a solo homer to lead off the inning, and Brittany Melzoni had a two-run home run with two outs. After Shipley and Johnson reached base on the next two at-bats, Shell cleared the bases with a three-run blast for the team’s third homer of the inning.
For the game, Grace outhit Goshen 12-4 with five of Grace’s hits going for extra bases. The Lady Lancers’ speed on the basepaths was also showcased with four steals. Johnson swiped two bases and scored twice, and Chandler Elliot was 2-for-4.
Hannah Adams earned the win on the mound, tossing four innings and allowing four hits with four strikeouts. The game ended after five innings due to the eight-margin run rule.
The Lady Lancers’ next series is on Tuesday at Bethel. Grace will open up Miller Field with home games next week with three doubleheaders, including against on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.