Lourdes began its 2022 season early on Saturday afternoon, sweeping a doubleheader from Bethel (Ind.) on the road 6-2 and 15-8 at Patterson Field in Mishawaka, Ind.
 
We played from the first pitch to the last pitch today," head coach Josh Bradford said after the game.  "We had two rough innings but were able to overcome them by staying the course.  Jake (Boyd) and Bryn (Biemiller) gave us hug innings out of the pen.  Offensively we were able to string good at bats together, leading to us being able to put some runs on the board.  They were great team wins."
 
After the Pilots scored a run in the opening inning of game one, Lourdes answered in the top of the second as Joey Oehlers (Lambertville, Mich./Bedford H.S.) hit a two-run home run.  Bethel tied the game in the third before the Gray Wolves plated a pair of unearned runs in the fourth to take the lead for good.
 
In the sixth, Avery Harper (Cardington, Ohio/Cardington-Lincoln H.S.) drew a bases loaded walk before Brad Ammons (Holland, Ohio/Springfield H.S.) singled home the game's final run.
 
Oehlers went 3-for-4 in the opener with a double and home run as the Gray Wolves tallied five hits total.
 
Wyatt Smith (Sycamore, Ohio/Wynford H.S.) earned the win (1-0), allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out three in three innings of work.  Jake Boyd (West Jefferson, Ohio/West Jefferson H.S.) tossed three innings of perfect relief followed by another 1-2-3 inning from Harrison Gargus (South Haven, Mich./South Haven H.S.).
 
Sullivan Swingley took the loss (0-1) for Bethel, yielding four runs, two of which were earned, and three hits in four innings on the hill.
 
Lourdes erupted for six runs in the top of the first of game two, sending 10 batters to the plate.  Steve Haugh (Waterville, Ohio/Anthony Wayne H.S.) hit a two-run home run two batters into the game while Matt McEachern (Burlington, Ont./Hayden Secondary) added a three-run double later in the inning.
 
After the Pilots answered with five runs of their own in the bottom of the first, Lourdes added an unearned tally in the third.  A four-run fourth, including Haugh's second round-tripper of the game, increased the Gray Wolf lead to 11-5.
 
Both teams scored a single run in the fifth before Lourdes added three final runs in the sixth, banging out three doubles in the inning.  Bethel plated two in the bottom of the seventh to close out the scoring.
 
McEachern went 3-for-4 with four runs batted in in the nightcap while Haugh had three RBI.  Ammons, Michael Strzelewicz (Temperance, Mich./Saint Mary's Catholic Central H.S.), and Alec Thacker (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg H.S.) also had two-hit games as part of a 14-hit attack.
 
Jagger Geck (Algonac, Mich./Algonac H.S.) picked up the win (1-0) while Bryn Biemiller (Newmarket, Ont./Bill Crothers Secondary) tossed three innings, striking out four.  Ty Mickiewicz took the loss (0-1) for the Pilots.
 
Lourdes (2-0) and Bethel (0-2) will meet again next Saturday (Oct. 2) at Mercy Field for another doubleheader to close out the fall portion of the schedule.  First pitch in game one is slated for 1 p.m.