The Lourdes university softball team picked up its first Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference victory on Friday evening as it split a doubleheader against Cornerstone at Pacesetter Park.
 
"I really think we were a different team out there today," stated head coach Jo Ann Gordon after the split. "I was really proud of the effort and energy we showed today."
 
In the first contest, Lourdes found itself playing from behind as Cornerstone (8-20, 2-8 WHAC) jumped out to a 2-0 lead after two innings.
 
Lourdes tied the contest at 2-2 over the course of the second and third innings. Abby Cantrell (Gibsonburg, Ohio/Gibsonburg) hit an RBI groundout in the bottom of the second inning and plated Shylee Schmeltz (Gibsonburg, Ohio/Gibsonburg) to get the Gray Wolves within 2-1.
 
In the ensuing inning, Olivia Stanton (Loveland, Ohio/Loveland) hit an RBI single to centerfield to tie the game at 2-2. After a scoreless fourth inning, Marissa Kostick (Saint Charles, Mich./Saint Charles) drilled a two-run bomb over the left field fence, giving Lourdes a 4-2 lead, its first of the evening.
 
Cornerstone was able to score three runs in the top of the sixth inning to claim the 5-4 victory.
 
Kostick was 2-for-3 at the plate with a pair of runs batted in and a run scored to lead the Gray Wolves offensively.
 
In the second contest, Lourdes wasted no time grabbing the lead. The Gray Wolves put up five runs in the opening inning to take a commanding 5-0 lead.
 
A two-RBI single from Stanton plated Taylor Genzman (Saint Claire Shores, Mich./Lakeview) and Alyssa Ziegler (Archbold, Ohio/Archbold) to give the Gray Wolves a 2-0 lead out of the gate.
 
Back-to-back singles from Kim Waters (Belleville, Mich./Lincoln) and Kayla Gauthier (Linwood, Mich./Pinconning) helped Lourdes plate three more runs to push the lead to 5-0.
 
After the Golden Eagles scored three runs in the top of the second, a Kostick single in the bottom half of the inning added another run for Lourdes to extend the lead to 6-3.
 
Cornerstone got within 6-5 late in the contest, but Waters made her way home on a defensive miscue from the Golden Eagles in the sixth inning to add an insurance run and seal the 7-5 victory.
 
Tiana Card (Brook Park, Ohio/Berea-Midpark) earned the victory in the circle for Lourdes, while freshman Ashley Riley (Oak Harbor, Ohio/Oak Harbor) slammed the door and earned her first career save. Riley finished the contest with five strikeouts and only allowed one hit over the final three innings.
 
Lourdes scattered six hits offensively in the second contest as six different players recorded a hit.
The Gray Wolves (5-13, 1-5 WHAC) return to action tomorrow afternoon as they host Aquinas at 1 p.m. in a twinbill at Pacesetter Park.