Getting strong pitching performances all day long, Lourdes earned a split on Saturday's doubleheader against Marian.  The Gray Wolves dropped the opener 1-0 at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind. before rebounding for a 6-3 victory in eight innings in game two.
 
A.J. Schraffenberger (Cincinnati, Ohio/Bishop Fenwick H.S.) went the distance in game one, allowing just one unearned run and two hits while walking two and striking out seven, but suffered the loss (0-3).
 
The Knights scored the game's lone run in the fourth, taking advantage of a passed ball and a Lourdes error.
 
Sam Bell also tossed a complete game to get the win (2-2) for Marian, allowing just two hits, singles to Alex Samson (Orrville, Ohio/Orrville H.S.) in the third and Zak Laubscher (Twinsburg, Ohio/Twinsburg H.S.) in the fifth.  He fanned eight and walked three.
 
"Game one was an outstanding pitching matchup," head coach Jeremy Snow said.  "A.J. gave us a chance to win the game, but there was no run support for him.  Give their kid credit.  He pitched an outstanding game as well."
 
Lourdes took the lead early in game two, plating unearned runs in the first and third.  George Pastor (Walled Lake, Mich./Central H.S.) singled home Cory Fallwell (Tucson, Ariz./Palo Verde H.S.) in the opening inning while Fallwell scored in the third after stealing third and the catcher's throw went into leftfield.
 
Marian (8-13) scored three times in the bottom of the fourth without a hit, taking advantage of two Gray Wolf errors to plate the unearned runs.  Lourdes tied the game with two outs in the top of the seventh, as Garrett Jex (Bowling Green, Ohio/Bowling Green H.S.) doubled home Samson to force extra innings.
 
The Gray Wolves tallied three runs in the eighth.  A bunt single by Laubscher allowed Glen Crabtree (Medina, Ohio/Black River H.S.) to score after a throwing error, and Samson delivered a two-run single up the middle to plate Laubscher and Pastor.
 
Paul Avila (Nogales, Ariz./Canyon Del Oro H.S.) earned his first collegiate victory (1-1) in relief, tossing a scoreless seventh while Brandon Holt (Ravenna, Ohio/Ravenna H.S.) earned the save, striking out the side in order in the eighth.  Bill Laranga (Maumee, Ohio/Maumee H.S.) started and worked six innings for a no decision, giving up just three unearned runs and three hits, striking out three and walking three.
 
"I thought this was a great day for our program," Snow added.  "We battled back late in game two to earn the win.  Our seniors came through big for us.  Jex did a great job tying the game in the seventh, Samson came through huge in both the seventh and eighth, and Holt slammed the door to close out the win."
 
Zeke Howie suffered the loss (1-2) for the Knights, tossing five innings of relief. He allowed four runs, two of which were earned, and six hits, while also striking out six.
 
Pastor and Samson each had two hits as part of an eight-hit game for the Gray Wolves.
 
Lourdes (2-10) will return home next Saturday as the Gray Wolves host Cleary at Mercy Field.  First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 1 p.m.