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Box Score 2 Alpena, MI - Due to their weekend series vs Kentucky Christian University getting canceled, Grace Christian scheduled a doubleheader against Alpena Community College to escape the rain and wrap up their fall season. The Tigers traveled north and faced the Lumberjacks in a doubleheader at Veterans Field in Ossineke, MI.
Sam Sipe started on the mound for Grace in game one. Unfortunately a few errors overshadowed Sipe's performance and he left the game after giving up 6 runs through two innings. The Tigers would battle back to cut the deficit throughout the game, but the 4-run second innning by Alpena was too much to overcome, and Grace dropped the first game by a score of 5-8.
Damian Fernandez led the way offensively in this game, going 2-4 with 2 runs scored.
Brendan Bos came on in relief for Sipe, giving three strong innings capped off by a triple play in the 5th inning.
Blake Johnson threw the final scoreless frame in the 6th for the Tigers.
Game two saw a different story as the Tigers' defense was their strong suit. After jumping out to a quick 6-0 lead after 3 innings, the Lumberjacks were hitless, courtesy of Grace starter
Joe Leavitt. Alpena would find their way back into the game however after a big 4th inning, cutting the Tigers' lead to just one. Grace reliever
Brady Unthank came into the game in the 5th inning, firing another 2.2 innings without surrendering a hit or a run. With the tying run on second base and 2 outs in the 6th inning,
Alex Bonnema dove for a ground ball up the middle completing a web gem to hold the Lumberjacks at bay. Still leading 6-5 in the final inning, with two Lumberjacks on base,
Carter Willis came in for the one out save and got the job done, sending the Tigers home on a victory.
Offensively in game two,
Jared Garnaat collected 3 hits and a head-turning 5 stolen bases.
Tyler Thomas and
Reagan Mutschler were right behind Garnaat with 2 hits each. Unthank took credit for the win, and Willis earned a save.
That would do it for the Tigers' fall season, ending their non-traditional season with a 2-6 official record through 8 games. Grace will now enter an off-season period of weight training and conditioning until January practices begin. Check back to the website for the spring season schedule to be posted.
