SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. — Grace Christian University baseball opened its 2026-27 campaign in impressive fashion Tuesday afternoon, sweeping Sault College in a doubleheader at Sault Area High School.
The Tigers opened the day with a dominant 12-0 victory before completing the sweep with a 5-1 win in the nightcap. Grace Christian's pitching staff allowed just one run across 14 innings while striking out 21 Sault College hitters.
Game One — Grace Christian 12, Sault College 0
Grace Christian wasted little time establishing control in the opener, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Gavin Kleidon, Reagan Mutschler and Dale Westphal all came around to score, with JJ Salas providing the key hit with a two-run double. The Tigers added another run in the third before breaking the game open with a seven-run fifth inning.
The Tigers added another run in the sixth to complete the 12-0 victory.
The offense produced seven hits, but Grace Christian's pressure on the bases and ability to take advantage of opportunities helped fuel the offensive outburst. The Tigers stole 10 bases in the game, with Kleidon and Westphal each stealing twice.
Mutschler provided one of the game's biggest blows with a home run, while Salas, Ryan Gordon and Kleidon each recorded doubles. Aiden Pavlacka added a triple.
On the mound, Ryan Mullins delivered an outstanding season debut. The right-hander earned the victory after throwing four scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out 10. Tyler Kennaugh, Ryan Reynolds and Markis Cadreau followed with a scoreless inning apiece to preserve the shutout.
Sault College managed just four hits and struck out 14 times against the Tigers' pitching staff. Grace Christian also played error-free baseball in the opener.
Game Two — Grace Christian 5, Sault College 1
The Tigers completed the sweep in the second game, overcoming an early 1-0 deficit to claim a 5-1 victory.
Sault College scored in the top of the first, but Grace Christian quickly answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning. Ben Anderson doubled and later scored, while Damian Fernandez delivered an RBI single to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead.
Grace Christian added another run in the fourth before putting the game away with two more runs in the fifth.
Anderson led the Tigers offensively, going 2-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and a walk. Gavin Kleidon also collected two hits, including a double, and drove in two runs. Dale Westphal went 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Fernandez and JJ Salas each added a hit and scored a run.
The Tigers' pitching once again kept Sault College's offense in check. Alex Jimenez earned the win after allowing just one unearned run on one hit over three innings while striking out three. Reagan Gates followed with two scoreless innings, and Nathan King and Tate Wager each added a scoreless inning to close out the victory.
Grace Christian finished the nightcap with nine hits and held Sault College to just four hits. The Tigers also turned two double plays defensively.
Tigers Start Season 2-0
With the two victories, Grace Christian opens the 2026-27 season 2-0 and heads into the remainder of the fall schedule with momentum on both sides of the ball.
The Tigers received strong contributions throughout the lineup, aggressive baserunning, and a pitching staff that combined for 14 scoreless innings in the doubleheader after allowing one first-inning run in Game Two.
Grace Christian will continue its fall-ball schedule as the Tigers prepare for the upcoming 2027 season.
