Lourdes dropped both ends of a doubleheader to the University of Northwestern Ohio at Mercy Field on Saturday, falling by the scores of 5-2 and 12-2.
In the opener, the Racers scored two batters into the game on a triple and a single. The Gray Wolves took the lead in the third as
Michael Strzelewicz (Temperance, Mich./Saint Mary's Catholic Central H.S.) was hit by a pitch and
Jay Denman (Toledo, Ohio/Saint Francis de Sales H.S.) singled. Denman's hit extended his on base streak to 30 consecutive games to start the season, a streak that was ended in the nightcap.
Noah Childress (Toledo, Ohio/Start H.S.) singled up the middle with two outs to plate both runners, giving Lourdes a 2-1 advantage.
Northwestern Ohio responded quickly, retaking the lead on a two-run double in the fourth. The game would remain 3-2 Racers until the ninth when the vistors plated a pair of insurance runs.
Lourdes managed just six hits against Jake Carlsen who earned the win (3-2), striking out seven.
Braxton McKart (Monroe, Mich./Monroe H.S.) suffered the loss (1-1), yielding three runs and seven hits in six innings of work.
The Gray Wolves struck first in game two as Childress doubled with two outs and scored one batter later on a double by
Harrison Jackson (Millbury, Ohio/Lake H.S.). Northwestern Ohio (16-14, 7-5 WHAC) responded in the third, taking the lead on a two-run double.
The Racers extended their lead in the sixth before Lourdes scored its final run in the bottom of the frame. A two-out error allowed Childress to score an unearned run. The two-bagger was the second of three doubles in the game for the senior.
Northwestern Ohio added to the lead with an inside-the-park home run in the seventh that scored three runs before plating five more in the eighth inning.
Drew Clavenna went six innings for the win (5-4) for the Racers, allowing one earned run and six hits while
Jagger Geck (Algonac, Mich./Algonac H.S.) suffered the loss (3-3), yielding five earned runs and 10 hits in 6.2 innings of work.
Lourdes (13-19, 4-8) will wrap up its homestand on Sunday hosting Indiana Tech. First pitch in game one of the doubleheader is set for 1 p.m. at Mercy Field.