Grace College’s baseball team got a memorable opportunity on Wednesday, playing at one of the premier minor league ballparks in the country.
The Lancers played a doubleheader against Indiana Tech at Parkview Field, home of the Fort Wayne TinCaps. Grace lost both games of the twin ball, falling 6-1 and 10-1.
The Warriors won the opener 6-1 despite holding just a 6-5 edge in hits.
The Lancers used a pitcher-by-committee approach in both games, and Grace’s hurlers were efficient in the opener. Bret Wilhelmi, Mason Meyer, Hunter Schumacher and Nick Stoltzfus combined to allow just six hits and three earned runs.
But Grace had three fielding errors in the game, and the Warriors produced extra-base hits in key moments. The Warriors scored three unearned runs in the fifth off back-to-back doubles to put the game out of reach.
Grace got on the scoreboard in the final at-bat of the game. The Lancers loaded the bases thanks to singles by RJ Snyder and Jaron Mullet as well as a walk by Chris Griffin. Alex Rich drove in one run with a two-out single, but the game ended with a rundown on the basepaths between third base and home.
Snyder finished 2 for 3 from the leadoff position, and Mullet was 1 for 2 with a run and a walk.
In the second game, the Lancers showed promise early on offense. In the top of the first, Grace had three singles off the bats of Griffin, Rich and Sam Newkirk. Newkirk’s single brought in Griffin for a 1-0 lead.
The Warriors responded in emphatic fashion. Indiana Tech plated six times in the bottom of the first and eased away for a 10-1 victory.
The Lancers did not have a base hit after the top of the first.
Braden Compton and Zach Platt were the most effective pitchers for Grace, throwing one scoreless inning in relief apiece.
The Lancers will head to Marian this weekend for a four-game series on Friday and Saturday. – from gclancers.com