The University of Northwestern Ohio scored at least two runs in six of the nine innings on Saturday afternoon, on the way to defeating Lourdes 16-7 at Mercy Field.
The Racers plated two in the opening inning before the Gray Wolves retired an out and added two more in the third. A four-run fourth, capped by a three-run home run from Blake Maines, who had seven RBI in the contest, put UNOH in front 8-0. The Racers took advantage of Lourdes walks in all three frames, as five of the first six free passes the Gray Wolves issued came around to score.
Lourdes cut into its deficit in the sixth, scoring five times while batting around.
Kevin Suttles (Monroe, Mich./Monroe H.S.) delivered a two-run double to put the Gray Wolves on the scoreboard and
Dallas Riggs (Prescott, Ariz./Bradshaw H.S.) added a bases clearing, three-run double.
UNOH answered immediately though, scoring three times in the top of the seventh to push the lead back to 11-3. After two more runs scored in the eighth, Jose Paulino and Jack Barrie hit back-to-back home runs in the ninth as part of a three-run frame for the Racers.
The Gray Wolves had three straight singles to open the bottom of the ninth, the third by
Bryce Gargus (South Haven, Mich./South Haven H.S.), to plate a run and Suttles added a fielder's choice RBI to complete the scoring.
George Pastor (Walled Lake, Mich./Central H.S.) had the only two-hit game for the Gray Wolves as Lourdes registered 10 hits in the contest. Maines, Barrie, and Myles Miller all had three hits for the Racers as part of a 16-hit attack.
Olivier Mailloux earned the win (7-2) for UNOH (21-14, 14-3 WHAC), allowing three runs and six hits in 5.1 innings of work while walking three and striking out five.
Zach Brown (Oregon, Ohio/Clay H.S.) suffered the loss (2-4), surrendering eight runs and five hits along with seven walks in four innings on the hill. He struck out four.
Lourdes (12-14, 4-10) is scheduled to return to the diamond on Tuesday afternoon, traveling to Marion, Ind. to face Indiana Wesleyan. First pitch in game one of the doubleheader is set for 3 p.m at the Baseball Field.
