Box Score A three-run sixth inning put Lourdes ahead for good on Tuesday evening as the Gray Wolves won for the third time in their last four games, defeating Hillsdale 7-5 at Mercy Field.
Lourdes took a 2-0 lead in the second inning as
Jake Conklin (Waterville, Ohio/Anthony Wayne H.S.) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force home
Josh Redies (Saline, Mich./Saline H.S.) and
Victor Diaz (Medina, Ohio/Cloverleaf H.S.) when a pick-off attempt was thrown array.
The Gray Wolves increased their advantage to 4-0 in the third as
John Crooks (Toledo, Ohio/Ottawa Hills H.S.) led off with a walk and
Andy Kefalos (Barberton, Ohio/Barberton H.S.) followed with a single.
Marty Ramirez (Toledo, Ohio/Start H.S.) drove home Crooks with a single to center and Redies followed with a sacrifice fly to plate Kefalos.
Hillsdale (9-21) tied the game with four runs on five hits in the fourth inning and took the lead 5-4 with a two-out single in the fifth.
Lourdes fought back though, retaking the lead with three runs of its own in the sixth. Kefalos singled home Conklin, who led off the inning with a double, to tie the game and
Cole Fitzgerald (Rome, N.Y./Centerville [Ohio] H.S.) put the Gray Wolves on top with a sacrifice fly to center that plated Crooks. With two outs, Redies delivered his second RBI of the night with a single that plated Kefalos.
Lourdes used four pitchers on the evening with
Nate Snow (Tucson, Ariz./Palo Verde H.S.) earning his first collegiate win (1-0), tossing 1.1 innings of scoreless relief.
Matt Olsavsky (Waterville, Ohio/Anthony Wayne H.S.) earned his first save of the year, striking out four without allowing a hit over the final three innings.
Lourdes tallied 10 hits off of seven Hillsdale hurlers, with Spencer Doan suffering the loss (0-1). Doan gave up three runs and four hits in 1.2 innings on the hill.
Kefalos, Redies, Diaz, and Conklin each had four hits to pace Lourdes while Crooks has now reached base safely in nine straight games.
Lourdes (6-19) will return to Mercy Field on Wednesday afternoon as the Gray Wolves host Defiance. First pitch against the Gray Wolves is set for 4 p.m.
