SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – After 26 road games to open the spring season, the Spring Arbor University baseball team finally returned home to Hank Burbridge Field on Saturday.

Sophomore catcher Peyton Harding hit his first career home run and senior pitcher Duncan Patterson was lights out on the mound to guide the Cougars to a 4-2 victory over Grace College in their home opener.

THE BASICS

FINAL SCORE: Spring Arbor 4, Grace 2

LOCATION: Hank Burbridge Field | Spring Arbor, Mich.

RECORDS: Spring Arbor 9-18 (2-5 CL), Grace 7-7 (3-4 CL)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Spring Arbor tallied a single run in each of the first three innings. An RBI single by Conner Lengerich allowed Chris Triplett to score in the first, and Harding belted a solo shot in the second. After a leadoff single in the third, Evan Lorey eventually came around to score on a dropped third strike to make it 3-0 SAU.
• That was all the support Patterson would need. The right-hander shutout Grace through the first seven innings before the Lancers were able to push a pair of unearned runs across in the eighth. However, Gavin Harris would come out of the bullpen and close out the game to earn the save.
• Lorey was 2-for-4 with a run scored while seven other Cougars also recorded one hit.
• Patterson pitched 7.2 innings giving up just seven hits while striking out four batters. Harris worked a scoreless 1.1 innings with one strikeout.

UP NEXT

Spring Arbor is set to conclude its three-game series with Grace with a doubleheader on Monday, Mar. 25. Game one of the twin bill is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.

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