Lourdes opened its 2020 softball season on Sunday falling to Florida National 11-3 and William Penn 5-0 at Fortune Road Athletic Complex in Kissimmee, Fla.
 
"All day we did a good job of putting the ball in play, striking out just three times," head coach Jo Ann Gordon said afterwards.  "We hit some balls hard, just right at people.  With all of our newcomers this season, we were able to get everyone into the action on day one."
 
Florida National (21-8) started fast, and scored in all five innings, showing that the Conquistadors were playing their 29^th game of the season already.  Five walks, three wild pitches, and a passed ball allowed the Conquistadors to score six times in the first two innings, capped by a three-run home run by Gabryella Hay. 
 
Two more runs crossed the plate in the third and another scored in the top of the fourth as the lead grew to 9-0.
 
Lourdes broke through in the bottom of the fourth.  Emily Wallace (Thornville, Ohio/Lakewood H.S.) singled home the team's first run and Ashleigh Riffle (Lebanon, Ohio/Lebanon H.S.) followed with a two-run pinch-hit double to pull the Gray Wolves within six.
 
Florida National responded with two more in the fifth inning though to close the game out.
 
Valerie Romano earned the win (1-0), pitching the final three innings in relief for the Conquistadors while Ashley Riley (Oak Harbor, Ohio/Oak Harbor H.S.) suffered the loss (0-1), yielding six runs, only three of which were earned.  She allowed just two hits, but walked five in two innings.
 
"We lost the freebie war in the opener," Gordon stated.
 
William Penn (1-9) started fast in game two, scoring four times in the opening inning, including a two-run homer by Lexi Riccardi.  Milena Applegate (Jerome, Mich./Lumen Christi H.S.) bounced back after the opening inning, allowing just one run the rest of the way, that coming in the fourth.  She scattered eight hits in the loss (0-1), pitching the complete game.
 
"Milena did a good job of throwing strikes, starting hitters with first pitch strikes more than 70% of the time," Gordon concluded.
 
Peyton Parker tossed a three-hit shutout (1-4), walking two.
 
Wallace had a hit in each game for the Gray Wolves, including a double in game two.  Riffle and Erin Manley (Ottawa Lake, Mich./Whiteford H.S.) also had a hit in each contest.
 
Lourdes (0-2) will return to Fortune Road Athletic Complex for two more games on Monday.  The Gray Wolves face No. 22 Saint Xavier at 9:15 a.m. followed by Carlow at 11:30 a.m.