SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – The Spring Arbor University softball team picked up a pair of Crossroads League victories over Grace College on Tuesday at home, winning 4-1 in game one before walking off with a 6-5 victory in the nightcap.
 
With the wins, the Cougars improve to 15-9 overall and 6-4 in conference play, having won five of their last six contests.
 
In the opener, Emilee Underwood continued her dominant season in the circle, tossing her ninth complete game while allowing just one run on four hits and striking out seven.
 
After Grace tied the game 1-1 in the top of the fifth, Spring Arbor responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning to take control. Nicole Barbeau jumpstarted the rally with a double to left, while Summer Ambler and Brooke Meeker each drove in runs with sacrifice flies.
 
Game two saw a back-and-forth battle, with Grace building a 3-1 lead through three innings. The Cougars answered in the fourth inning with a power surge, as Tammy Craven launched a two-run home run to tie the game before Payton Grange followed with a solo shot to give SAU the lead.
 
Grace regained the advantage with two runs in the fifth, setting up late-game drama. Trailing by two in the seventh, Underwood sparked the rally with a pinch-hit double. After advancing runners into scoring position, the Cougars tied the game on a wild pitch before Grace Luby delivered a walk-off single up the middle.
 
Grange led the offense in game two, going 2-for-3 with a double, a home run and two RBIs. Craven worked 4.2 innings in the circle, allowing three earned runs, while Ava Poulson earned the win with 2.1 innings of scoreless relief, striking out four.
 
Spring Arbor will return to action on Wednesday, March 25, traveling to Indianapolis to face No. 7 ranked Marian University.