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Lourdes dropped the opener of Sunday's doubleheader 8-3 to Cleary at Mercy Field, but battled back to win the nightcap 6-2 to win the series three games to one over the Cougars.
 
"Overall it was a good weekend for us," head coach Andy Ham said afterwards.  "We've definitely improved since our first few games.  Overall our pitching was outstanding this weekend."
 
Cleary took the lead in the opening inning of the opener and carried the 1-0 lead into the fourth inning.  Kyle Sherman (Collierville, Tenn./Rossville Christian Academy) tied the game with a single to left which plated Zak Laubscher (Twinsburg, Ohio/Twinsburg H.S.).
 
A run-scoring single in the fifth by Andy Kefalos (Barberton, Ohio/Barberton H.S.) put the Gray Wolves in front and two batters later Laubscher increased the lead to 3-1 with a fielder's choice RBI.  Cleary answered with a uun in the sixth but Lourdes maintained a 3-2 lead into the seventh.
 
Cleary rallied in the final frame, sending 11 batters to the plate, while scoring six times to earn the victory.
 
Lourdes tallied just four hits in the opener with Cougar reliever Gunnar Gail earning the win (1-1) with 2.2 innings of scoreless relief.  Frank Shaffer (Twinsburg, Ohio/Twinsburg H.S.) suffered the loss (0-2), despite working into the seventh inning.  He allowed five runs on eight hits in his six innings of work with four strikeouts.
 
Nick Toth (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson H.S.) went 3-for-3 with two doubles in the nightcap while Kefalos also had two hits as Lourdes tallied a season-high nine safeties in the win.
 
The Cougars took the early lead with a pair of runs in the top of the third, only to have Lourdes respond with two of its own in the bottom of the inning.  Nate Snow (Tucson, Ariz./Palo Verde H.S.) registered a sacrifice fly and Marty Ramirez (Toledo, Ohio/Start H.S.) tied the game with a single to left.
 
The game stayed 2-2 until the fifth when the Gray Wolf bats erupted.  Toth doubled to lead off and Kefalos put Lourdes in front one batter later with a triple to right.  Laubscher added a RBI single and after a wild pitch, Snow doubled to left-center to make it a 5-2 Lourdes advantage.  A two-out error allowed Snow to cross the plate with the final run of the game.
 
"It was great to finally string some hits together and put up a crooked number," Ham added.  "We started driving the ball."
 
Drew Lepiarz (Toledo, Ohio/Start H.S.) went six strong innings for the win (1-1), allowing just three hits and two runs, only one of which was earned.  He struck out seven while walking just two.  Bill Laranga (Maumee, Ohio/Maumee H.S.) added a scoreless seventh, ending the game with a strikeout.
 
Eric Davidson suffered the loss (1-1) in relief for Cleary (5-8), allowing three runs and four hits in 1.1 innings of work.
 
Lourdes (3-6) will take Monday off before heading to Upland, Ind. on Tuesday afternoon.  The Gray Wolves will face Taylor in doubleheader action, with game one slated for a 2 p.m. start at Winterholter Field.