Complete Notes
Upcoming in Gray Wolves Softball: Lourdes opens the home portion of the 2022 schedule this week to begin a 12-game homestand.  The Gray Wolves entertain Thomas More in a doubleheader on Wednesday at Gray Wolf Field before hosting Calumet in a Sunday morning twinbill.

Head Coach Caitlin Blanchard: In her first season on the Lourdes bench, Caitlin Blanchard has a 3-4 (.429) record at the helm of the Gray Wolves as well as a collegiate head coach.  She is the only the second head coach in Lourdes program's history.

Series Notes: Thomas More won the only previous meeting between the two schools 3-0 on March 16, 2021 in a game played in Crestview Hills, Ky.  Calumet holds a 2-1 series edge against the Gray Wolves dating back to March 5, 2018.  The Crimson Wave and Lourdes split a doubleheader last season at Gray Wolf Field with Calumet winning the opener 6-0 before the Gray Wolves earned a split with a 4-2 win in game two.

Wrapping Up Last Week: Lourdes won its season opener 11-9 against Carlow on Sunday (March 6) behind three RBI from both Megan Richardson and Brooke Albert.  The Gray Wolves downed Judson 4-1 on Monday as Kirsten Smith struck out 11 while Annalisse Palma went 3-for-3.  Lourdes also fell 5-3 to Bethel (Ind.) on Monday.  Thursday Spring Arbor scored a 2-0 victory over the Gray Wolves with Palma accounting for two of the team's three hits before Trinity Christian notched a 4-2 victory over Lourdes.  Palma and Sophia Dauterman each had two hits against the Trolls.  Friday eighth-ranked Indiana Wesleyan posted a 7-2 win over Lourdes with Albert accounting for two of the Gray Wolves' four hits.  That evening, Lourdes downed Bethel (Ind.) 2-1, winning on Ella Leonard's walk-off single in the seventh.

Scouting Thomas More: The Saints have lost eight of their last nine games after splitting a doubleheader at Tennessee Southern on Friday (March 11).  Elana Harrison leads Thomas More batting .465 with 15 runs batted in.  Annika Gels leads the pitching staff with 26 strikeouts and a 4.77 earned run average in 36.2 innings of work.

Scouting Calumet: The Crimson Wave snapped a three-game losing streak with an 8-0 victory over Siena Heights on Friday (March 11).  Calumet heads to Madonna on Saturday before visiting Lourdes.  Roxanne Ines, Alex Navarro, and Adelina Staden are all hitting .400 for Calumet while Kylee Slack has 13 RBI.  Josselline Monge sports a 3.00 ERA in 35 innings in the circle.

Lourdes In Home Openers: Lourdes is 1-7 all-time in home openers.  The Gray Wolves lone win came April 5, 2014, a 2-1 triumph over Northwestern Ohio at Pacesetter Park.  In the only previous home opener at Gray Wolf Field, Lourdes fell 14-1 to Mount Vernon Nazarene on March 5, 2021.

Game Change: Lourdes, which has already had four games cancelled due to rain in Florida and another cancelled due to an umpire shortage, has made another schedule change.  The game against Calumet that was originally slated for Friday (March 18) has been moved to Sunday (March 20) at 10 a.m. due to the threat of rain.

Swinging a Hot Bat: Annalisse Palma returns north leading Lourdes with 10 hits and a .455 batting average.  She has a team-high three doubles and is slugging .591 while adding two walks and a hit by pitch for a .520 on base percentage.

Making the Most of Opportunities: Sophia Dauterman has just nine plate appearances this season but has reached base in seven of them for a .778 on base percentage.  She has five hits in seven at bats for a .174 average.

Driving In Runs: Brooke Albert and Megan Richardson lead Lourdes with four runs batted in each on the young season.  The duo, along with Maddy Donaldson, have accounted for the team's three home runs as well this season.

Swiping Bases: Annalisse Palma has been successful in four of her five stolen base attempts thus far this year.  As a team, Lourdes is 13-of-15 on the base paths with Sophia Dauterman and Ella Leonard each having a pair of thefts as well.

Leading the Way in the Circle: Kirsten Smith has thrown a team-leading 21 innings for the Gray Wolves this year.  She has struck out 29, including 11 against Judson in her collegiate debut, while sporting a 1.67 earned run average.  She has limited opponents to just a .259 batting average against her.

Into the Action: Every healthy player on the Lourdes roster that has seen action this season has made at least three appearances for the Gray Wolves in 2022.  Only Annalisse Palma, Brooke Albert, Megan Richardson, and Emily Wallace have started all seven contests.

This and That: Lourdes has not won an extra inning game since April 27, 2018 against Cornerstone (0-5 since) ... Megan Richardson earned her first collegiate save in the circle against Carlow ... Ella Leonard (.333) and Elizabeth Chagolla (.300) are both hitting .300 or better ... Vivianna Gonzalez has allowed just one run in 6.1 innings of relief in the circle.