Grace Baseball Goes 3-1 Against Calumet
WHITING, Ind. / KENTWOOD, Mich. — Grace Christian University baseball continued its strong start to the fall season, winning three of four games against Calumet College of St. Joseph on October 9–10. The Tigers earned a split in Friday's doubleheader in Whiting, Indiana, before sweeping Saturday's home doubleheader at Kellogg Woods Park.
Grace opened the weekend with a dramatic 9-8 comeback victory before dropping a 7-6 decision in the second game Friday. The Tigers responded with convincing 10-4 and 7-4 wins on Saturday to finish the weekend with a 5-1 record in fall-ball competition.
Friday: Tigers Rally for 9-8 Win Before Narrow Setback
Grace faced an early deficit in Friday's opener, as Calumet jumped out to a 7-0 lead through the first two innings. The Tigers responded with a remarkable seven-run third inning to even the score at 7-7.
Ben Anderson, Aiden Pavlacka, Tyler Kennaugh, Gavin Kleidon, Reagan Mutschler, Damian Fernandez and Dale Westphal all scored during the rally. Grace added two runs in the fifth inning, with Mutschler and Fernandez crossing the plate to give the Tigers a 9-7 advantage.
Calumet scored once in the seventh, but Grace held on for the 9-8 victory.
Mutschler led the Tigers offensively, going 2-for-3 with two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI. Anderson added two hits, including a triple, while Fernandez finished with a hit, two runs scored and an RBI. Westphal also collected two doubles on the day.
On the mound, Ryan Reynolds earned the win in relief, allowing one run over 4 1/3 innings. Reagan Gates recorded the save, working the final two-thirds of an inning to secure the comeback victory.
In the afternoon game, Grace attempted another comeback after Calumet scored five runs in the first inning and two more in the second to take a 7-0 lead.
The Tigers began their rally with two runs in the fifth inning before putting together a four-run sixth. Anderson drove in two runs, while Reagan Mutschler collected two hits in the game. Westphal added two hits and an RBI, and Kennaugh contributed a hit, a run scored and an RBI.
Despite the late push, Grace came up just short, falling 7-6 to split Friday's doubleheader.
Saturday: Grace Sweeps Calumet at Home
The Tigers returned to Kentwood on Saturday and responded with a strong offensive performance in a 10-4 victory in the opener.
After falling behind 2-0 early, Grace got on the scoreboard in the first inning and took control with a four-run third. The Tigers added two runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth to build a comfortable lead.
Anderson paced the offense, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Mutschler added two hits, two runs scored and two RBIs, while Gordon recorded a hit and an RBI. Kleidon scored twice, and Kennaugh earned the win on the mound.
Grace finished with nine hits and took advantage of nine walks, while aggressive baserunning helped the Tigers create additional scoring opportunities.
In the day's second game, the Tigers completed the sweep with a 7-4 win.
Calumet scored in the first and fourth innings to take a 2-0 lead, but Grace broke through with a five-run fourth inning. The Tigers added two more runs in the fifth to extend their advantage to 7-2.
Westphal finished with two hits and two RBIs, while Gordon added two hits and an RBI. Kennaugh scored twice, and Mutschler crossed the plate twice as Grace used timely hitting and pressure on the bases to take control.
Calumet scored twice in the seventh, but Alex Jimenez earned the win and Tate Wager recorded the save to close out the victory.
Tigers Continue Building Momentum
Grace's three victories against Calumet highlighted the team's ability to respond to adversity, generate offense in key situations and finish games. The Tigers scored 32 runs across the four contests and stole 33 bases, consistently putting pressure on the opposition.
Anderson was a key contributor throughout the weekend, while Mutschler and Westphal provided consistent production in the middle of the lineup. The pitching staff also delivered important performances in relief, including Reynolds' comeback-game win and Gates' save in Friday's opener.
After opening the fall schedule with a sweep of Sault College, Grace has continued to build momentum through its first six games, compiling a 5-1 record.
The Tigers will return to the field October 16–17 for a four-game fall series against Bay College as they continue preparing for the 2027 season.
