Monday saw both Aquinas and Lourdes rally in the late innings to post 4-3 victories at Mercy Field as the Saints took the opener before the Gray Wolves posted a win in game two.
 
"I really liked how we battled all day," head coach Andy Ham said afterwards.  "We dropped a tough first game, but stayed with it, battled, and got a team win in the second game.  Lots of guys contributed in game two and that was a big win for us.  Hopefully that will give us some momentum going into this week.  Our pitching was outstanding all day."
 
Starting pitching dominated in both contests.  In the opener, Bryan Mitzner and Drew Lepiarz (Toledo, Ohio/Start H.S.) both tossed five shutout innings before their respective offensive came through in the sixth.  Aquinas manufactured a run in the top half of the inning with a double, sacrifice bunt, and sacrifice fly.  Lourdes answered in the bottom of the inning as Jonathan Barker (Sylvania, Ohio/Southview H.S.) and Zak Laubscher (Twinsburg, Ohio/Twinsburg H.S.) singled with one out before Garrett Jex (Bowling Green, Ohio/Bowling Green H.S.) was hit by a pitch.  Andy Kefalos (Barberton, Ohio/Barberton H.S.) tied the game with a run-scoring single to left-centerfield.
 
The game remained tied into the bottom of the eighth when Lourdes took the lead with an unearned run.  A two out single by Laubscher was followed by a single from Jex.  A misplay in the outfield allowed Laubscher to race around from first, tying the game.
 
Lepiarz was lifted after eight innings of one-run, four-hit baseball, striking out five before eventually earning a no decision.
 
Aquinas rallied with four straight two-out hits in the ninth inning to plate three runs, taking a 4-2 lead.  Lourdes looked to tie in the bottom of the ninth, as Marty Ramirez (Toledo, Ohio/Start H.S.) and Tyler Trame (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic H.S.) drew walks and moved up on a sacrifice bunt.  Kyle Sherman's (Collierville, Tenn./Rossville Christian Academy) groundout plated Ramirez, but Trame was stranded at third.
 
Justen Caudill earned the win (2-0) in relief for Aquinas, while Sean Koerber (Harper Woods, Mich./Grosse Pointe North H.S.) suffered the loss (0-1). 
 
In game two, Aquinas (11-15, 7-8 WHAC) struck first with a run in the third before adding what appeared to be two insurance runs in the top of the seventh against starter A.J. Schraffenberger (Cincinnati, Ohio/Bishop Fenwick H.S.).
 
After tossing six shutout innings, Lourdes got to Saints starter Brendan Penny in the seventh.  Jex led off with a walk and Kefalos delivered the first run with a double to right-center.  With two outs, Nick Toth (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson H.S.) pulled the Gray Wolves to within one with a single up the middle.  Following a walk to Nick Mazgay (Centerburg, Ohio/Centerburg H.S.), Calvin Franklin IV (Detroit, Mich./Lathrup H.S.) hit a grounder to shortstop, but the throw to second was wide, allowing the tying run to score.
 
Lourdes put two runners on with one out in the eighth, but could not score.  In the ninth, Mazgay led off with a walk, moved to second on wild pitch, and third on a sacrifice bunt.  Barker delivered the game-winning single to right-center, allowing the Gray Wolves to split the twinbill as well as the four-game series.
 
Brandon Holt (Ravenna, Ohio/Ravenna H.S.) earned the win (2-0) in relief, tossing 2.2 innings of scoreless relief, allowing just one hit.  Kameron Joostberns suffered the loss (0-2) for the Saints.
 
Lourdes (8-19, 4-11) will step out of conference play on Wednesday afternoon for a doubleheader against Rochester (Mich.).  First pitch of the twinbill is set for 1 p.m. at Bill Shinsky Field in Rochester Hills, Mich.