Lourdes (3-1, 0-0 WHAC)
Games #5-6: vs. Grace (0-0, 0-0 CL)
Wednesday, February 27, 1 p.m. EDT (DH)
Grand Park - Indianapolis, Indiana
 

Upcoming in Gray Wolves Baseball: Lourdes will look to get the spring portion of the schedule underway on Wednesday afternoon with a neutral site twinbill against Grace. Following the cancellation of the Saint Xavier weekend series due to inclement weather, Lourdes added the doubleheader earlier this week. 

Head Coach Jeremy Snow: In his third season on the Lourdes bench, Jeremy Snow has a 51-95 (.349) record at the helm of the Gray Wolves, as well as in his career as a collegiate head coach.  He is the second head coach in Lourdes program's history.

Probable Starters: Lourdes expects to hand the baseball to Zach Brown (RHP, 0-0, 10.38 ERA) on Wednesday in the first game of the doubleheader. Braxton McKart (RHP, 6-1, 6.94 ERA in 2018) will handle duties on the bump during game two of the doubleheader. 

Series Notes: Lourdes is 5-1 all-time against Grace in a series that started on April 21, 2015. Lourdes swept the inaugural twinbill against the Lancers 7-6 and 2-0 at Mercy Field. The Gray Wolves have won the last three matchups, including a doubleheader sweep over Grace in 2018 in Winter Haven, Florida.

Wrapping Up The Fall: Lourdes got off to an impressive start in its fall series against Spring Arbor. Lourdes posted a 3-1 record while multiple players made their collegiate debuts. The Gray Wolf offense amassed 26 runs in their three victories on 34 hits. Lourdes also tallied 27 runs batted in during the fall series.

Scouting Grace: The Lancers will open their 2019 campaign on Wednesday when they meet Lourdes at Grand Park in Indianapolis, Indiana. After going 9-33 a season ago, Grace will look to an experienced roster to lead the way in 2019. The Lancers return nine seniors and five juniors this season. Houston Haney returns to the diamond after an impressive rookie campaign the featured 40 hits, good for second most on the team in 2018. Haney also swiped a team-high eight bags a season ago. On the mound for the Lancers, left-handed pitcher Aaron Voirol returns after appearing and starting in a game-high 12 games for Grace. Voirol had team-bests in strikeouts (55), innings pitched (68.0), wins (4) and complete games (2).

Players To Watch: Lourdes had four baseball players named as NAIA Players to Watch by Collegiate Baseball in the publication's season preview. Making the list for the Gray Wolves are right-handed pitcher Braxton McKart, shortstop George Pastor, third baseman Glen Crabtree, and outfielder Jay Denman. 

Home Openers: Lourdes is 4-4 all-time in home openers after defeating Spring Arbor this fall to open the season. Lourdes also won its home openers in 2013 (Goshen, 3-1), 2016 (Goshen, 5-0) and 2018 (UM-Dearborn, 13-3).

Playing Fall Ball: Lourdes is 7-12 all-time in countable fall games. Last year the Gray Wolves went 3-3 after sweeping a series against Michigan-Dearborn and dropping three contests at Indiana Tech. This fall Lourdes got off to a 3-1 start in a four-game series against Spring Arbor.

Returning WHAC Awardees: The Gray Wolves return a pair of talented upperclassmen in the form of 2018 First Team All-WHAC selection Jay Denman and 2018 Second Team All-WHAC honoree George Pastor. Denman finished his 2018 campaign with 59 hits, 28 RBI, and an impressive .410 batting average. Pastor returns after posting 58 hits, 34 runs and 30 RBI a season ago. He also tallied 20 extra base hits.

First Career Victory: In his first career collegiate appearance on the mound, Max Lojko made the most of his time. The freshman hurler went 6.0 innings and waived two batters on his way to his first career victory on the bump. He also posted a 0.00 earned run average in the victory.

Off To A Hot Start: For the second straight season, Lourdes opened the season winning three of its first four games. Lourdes matched its best start through four games this fall after winning three out of the first four contests of the season. 

Swinging The Bat: Both Bryce Gargus and Cameron Gallo found early success this fall while swinging the bat. Gallo leads the team through four games with five hits and ranks second only behind Gargus with an impressive .417 batting average. Gargus currently leads the team, hitting at a .667 clip from the plate and is tied for second on the squad with four hits. 

Making Their Debuts: Six freshman made their collegiate debuts for the Gray Wolves this fall against Spring Arbor. Max Lojko, Brandon Homan, Braden Halford, Alex Pallottini, Travis Thompson and Spencer Rader all made their debuts for Lourdes. 

This and That: Lourdes is 103-218-1 all-time in its eighth season of baseball .. the Gray Wolves are 50-93 at Mercy Field all-time ... Lourdes has appeared in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference tournament twice in its first seven years as a program ... Lourdes is 1-1 all-time in spring-opening games following a fall series ... the Gray Wolves are set to compete in Tuscon, Arizona during a week-long spring break trip that will feature nine games ... conference play begins for the Gray Wolves on Mar. 23 with a twinbill against Cornerstone.