Lourdes opened its Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference series with the University of Northwestern Ohio on Friday afternoon, dropping both games of a doubleheader to the Racers 11-4 and 8-7 at Mercy Field.
 
In the opener, Northwestern Ohio jumped in front in the third, only to have the Gray Wolves respond with a pair of runs in the fourth.  Cameron Gallo (Mason, Ohio/Bishop Fenwick H.S.) tied the game with a RBI groundout that scored Dallas Riggs (Prescott, Ariz./Bradshaw Mountain H.S.) and George Pastor (Walled Lake, Mich./Central H.S.) reached on a two-out error that plated Glen Crabtree (Median, Ohio/Black River H.S.).
 
The Racers tied the game in the fifth with an unearned run and took the lead for good with three runs, including another unearned tally, in the sixth.  UNOH added to the lead with two in the seventh, and took a 7-2 advantage into the bottom of the eighth.
 
Gallo delivered a run-scoring single to score Devin Stanley (Euclid, Ohio/Saint Edward H.S.), but the Gray Wolves left the bases loaded in the eighth.  The Racers added four in the ninth before Jay Denman (Toledo, Ohio/Saint Francis de Sales H.S.) singled and scored following three wild pitches for the game's final run.
 
Denman and Gallo both had two hits as part of a nine-hit effort for Lourdes while Felix Correa went 2-for-4 with five runs batted in for the Racers.
 
Mike Alexander earned the win (4-1), allowing two runs, one of which was earned, and six hits in six innings of work while striking out six.  Ryan Kroll (Brownstown, Mich./Carlson H.S.) suffered the loss (1-2), giving up five runs and five hits in six innings.
 
Lourdes lit up the scoreboard first in game two as Stanley singled, moved to third on a double by Riggs, and scored on a groundout by Crabtree.  After Northwestern Ohio tied the game in the third, Lourdes retook the lead in the fourth.  Gallo doubled home Crabtree, who had tripled, giving Lourdes a 2-1 advantage.
 
The Racers responded with two in the fifth to move back in front after a two-run double by Erich Gonzalez, who had three RBI in the game. 
 
The Gray Wolves plated four in the fifth to build a 6-3 lead, taking advantage of two walks and a hit batter.  Riggs singled home one run while Gallo and Pastor added run-scoring hits.  Collin Golttschalk's (Walled Lake, Mich./Central H.S.) RBI fielder's choice plated the sixth run.
 
Northwestern Ohio tied the game in the seventh, scoring three times including a home run by Jack Barrie, and took the lead with two more in the eight.
 
Lourdes tried to rally in the ninth, as Crabtree singled home Denman with two outs.  The Gray Wolves had runners on second and third but could not score the tying run as the game ended.
 
Gallo had three hits while Riggs and Crabtree each added two as part of an 11-hit attack for Lourdes.
 
Mitch Ebben earned the win (3-0) with two innings of scoreless relief for the Racers while Liam Bloom (Swanton, Ohio/Swanton H.S.) suffered the loss (1-3).  Jacob Hulcher earned the save for UNOH pitching the ninth.
 
Lourdes (12-13, 4-9 WHAC) and Northwestern Ohio (20-14, 13-3) will close out their three-game series on Saturday afternoon.  First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Mercy Field.