After waiting out a rain delay of more than five hours, Lourdes dropped its opening Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference tournament game to Madonna 12-1 on Thursday afternoon at Racer Field in Lima, Ohio.
 
The game was the first ever for the Gray Wolves in postseason play in program history.
 
Madonna jumped on the scoreboard quickly, as Frankie Lucska hit a two-run home run in the top of the first inning.  The Crusaders added to the lead in the second, scoring five times, including a two-run double by Jimmy White and a two-run homer from Jalen Thomas.
 
The Crusaders tacked on a pair of unearned runs in the fourth inning to increase the lead to 9-0.  Another single tally crossed the plate in the fifth for Madonna before Jimmy White hit a solo blast in the sixth.
 
Lourdes finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth, as Jay Denman (Toledo, Ohio/Saint Francis de Sales H.S.) led off with a single and moved to second on a throwing error.  Devin Stanley (Euclid, Ohio/Saint Edward H.S.) followed, dropping a single on the right field foul line to drive home the run, his second hit of the afternoon.
 
Another run crossed the plate for Madonna in the top of the seventh to conclude the scoring.
 
Jack Ferguson went the distance on the hill for the Crusaders to earn the win (7-3), allowing just three hits while walking two and striking out nine.  Braxton McKart (Monroe, Mich./Monroe H.S.) suffered the loss (6-1), allowing seven runs and seven hits over the first two innings.
 
Lourdes (22-22) will return to Racer Field on Friday to face the University of Northwestern Ohio, the tournament host.  The Gray Wolves will need a victory to continue their season in the double elimination event.  First pitch is slated for 10 a.m.