Lourdes fell in both ends of a doubleheader, 5-4 in 11 innings and 6-1, on the road at the University of Northwestern Ohio on Monday afternoon at Racer Field in Lima, Ohio in a make-up of Sunday's postponed contests.
 
After surrendering three runs just five batters into the bottom of the first, Lourdes rebounded in the opener.  A four-run top of the second put the Gray Wolves in front as Lourdes sent 10 batters to the plate.  After two singles and a fielder's choice loaded the bases, Michael Davis (Whittier, Calif./California H.S.) plated Brad Ammons (Holland, Ohio/Springfield H.S.) while grounding into a fielder's choice.  Jay Denman (Toledo, Ohio/Saint Francis de Sales H.S.) followed with a two-run single to tie the game and Braden Halford (Port Hope, Ont./Saint Mary's H.S.) put the Gray Wolves in front with a bases loaded walk with two outs in the inning.
 
Northwestern Ohio answered with a run in the bottom of the second to tie the game before the pitching staffs took control.  Zach Brown (Oregon, Ohio/Clay H.S.) would not allow another run in his final four innings of work, striking out seven of the final eight batters he faced.  He left with a no decision after six innings, fanning nine while allowing the four runs on five hits and walking four.
 
The Racers' Brett McEldowney was just as effective, leaving after six innings as well.  He allowed just one hit over his final four innings, finishing the day allowing the four runs, three of which were earned, and five hits while striking out six and walking three.
 
The bullpens took over, continuing to put up zeros into the 11^th inning.  A leadoff double followed by a passed ball led to a game-winning sacrifice fly for Northwestern Ohio, as the Racers plated an unearned run off of Travis Thompson (South Euclid, Ohio/Brush H.S.), who worked the final 4.2 innings, striking out four while allowing just three hits while taking a tough loss (0-1).  Drew Clavenna, the final Racer hurler, earned the win (2-0).
 
"Pitching really gave us a chance today," head coach Jeremy Snow said afterwards.  "Zach gave us six quality innings and Travis really competed to hold their offense off for as long as possible.  We just couldn't get the clutch hit when we needed it."
 
Denman, Ammons, and Noah Childress (Toledo, Ohio/Start H.S.) each had two hits for the Gray Wolves in the opener.
 
In game two, Northwestern Ohio (10-17-1, 5-1 WHAC) jumped out to a two-run lead in the first following a home run and added two more runs in the third. 
 
Lourdes managed just three hits in the first six innings against Oliver Mailloux, who earned the win (2-0) striking out eight while walking just two.  The Gray Wolves finally broke through against the Racers' bullpen in the seventh.  Following three straight singles, Denman drew a bases loaded walk that scored courtesy runner Demetri Carbonell (Jacksonville, Fla./Mandarin H.S.).  Lourdes stranded the bases loaded though after the walk.
 
The Racers responded with a pair of runs of their own in the bottom of the seventh.  Lourdes again filled the sacks in the ninth, but was unable to produce a late rally.
 
Liam Bloom (Swanton, Ohio/Swanton H.S.) worked the first six innings for the Gray Wolves, suffering the loss (0-3), allowing four runs on five hits while striking out three.  Deion Kurtz (Elyria, Ohio/Elyria Catholic H.S.) tossed the final two innings.
 
"Game two was the same story as the opener with Bloom and Kurtz pitching well," Snow added.  "Leaving the bases loaded twice in the final three innings was hard to swallow."
 
Davis and Denman each had two hits for the Gray Wolves in game two.
 
"The good thing is we get to play tomorrow and see if we can't change our fortune," Snow concluded.
 
Lourdes (7-12, 1-5) returns home to Mercy Field on Tuesday afternoon to host Rochester (Mich.) in a make-up of Saturday's postponement.  First pitch in game one of the doubleheader is set for 2 p.m.