Complete Notes
Upcoming in Gray Wolves Softball: A busy week for Lourdes softball has arrived with the Gray Wolves playing eight games in five days.  The Gray Wolves travel to Malone for a doubleheader on Tuesday before hosting Mount Vernon Nazarene on Thursday.  Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic conference play opens on Saturday at home against Michigan-Dearborn before the Gray Wolves entertain Indiana Tech on Sunday.

Head Coach Caitlin Blanchard: In her first season on the Lourdes bench, Caitlin Blanchard has a 4-7 (.364) 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: Lourdes and Malone are meeting for the first time ever on Tuesday.  Mount Vernon Nazarene holds a 4-2 series edge dating back to March 14, 2014.  The Cougars have won four straight in the series, including 14-1 and 11-2 decisions in 2021 at Gray Wolf Field.  Michigan-Dearborn is 10-7 against the Gray Wolves in a series that began April 3, 2013.  The Wolverines won the last four games including 4-0 and 5-1 decisions in 2021.  Lourdes is 9-7 all-time against Indiana Tech dating back to April 23, 2013.  The Gray Wolves swept a doubleheader last season in Fort Wayne, Ind. by scores of 7-2 and 1-0. 

Wrapping Up Last Week: Lourdes opened the home slate on Wednesday dropping a twinbill to Thomas More 11-6 and 20-9.  Brooke Albert had three hits in the opener while adding two more in game two.  On Sunday, the Gray Wolves defeated Calumet 10-5 in game one behind six RBI from Ashleigh Riffle.  In game two, the Crimson Wave notched a 2-0 shutout.

Scouting Malone: The Pioneers have lost six straight games after falling 7-0 to Mercyhurst and 1-0 to Seton Hill on Friday (March 18).  April Howser is hitting a team-leading .448 with six runs batted in while Lauren Bennett has eight RBI.  Elizabeth Dyke leads the pitching staff with 14 strikeouts and a 2.27 earned run average through 24.2 innings.

Scouting Mount Vernon Nazarene: The Cougars enter the week having won nine straight after sweeping Spring Arbor 9-1 and 6-2 last Tuesday (March 15).  Mount Vernon Nazarene travels to Saint Francis (Ind.) on Monday and hosts Bethel (Ind.) on Tuesday before facing Lourdes.  Mallory Shoup is hitting a team-leading .472 while Kaycee Ollis is batting .469 with seven home runs and 26 RBI.  Nadia Hoffman has a 1.31 ERA with 35 strikeouts in 37.1 innings in the circle.

Scouting Michigan-Dearborn: The Wolverines have won four straight but have been idle since downing Florida National 2-0 and Trinity International 11-3 back on March 4.  Alyssa Agosta is hitting .357 while Makenna Millhorn has 10 RBI.  Sydni Uhlenberg sports a 1.39 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 35.1 innings pitching.

Scouting Indiana Tech: The Warriors dropped both ends of a doubleheader at Florida National last Friday (March 18) 5-1 and 10-7.  Indiana Tech plays six games before heading to Lourdes on Sunday.  Olyvia Notter is hitting .368 while Meghan Berlin has a .355 average.  Notter also leads the pitching staff with a .197 ERA in 21.1 innings of work.

Moving Locations: Tuesday's game against Malone has been moved to the Pioneers' home field in Canton, Ohio due to forecasted rain in Sylvania.

Lourdes In WHAC Openers: Lourdes is 2-6 all-time in WHAC openers.  The Gray Wolves last conference-opening win came March 28, 2018, a 3-2 10-inning triumph over Michigan-Dearborn at Pacesetter Park.  Last year the Gray Wolves fell 4-1 at Cleary to open conference play.

Albert Has Big Week: Brooke Albert had a big four games last week for the Gray Wolves at the plate.  The freshman batted .692 (9-for-13) with three doubles, three RBI, and four stolen bases last week.  For the year, she leads Lourdes with 14 hits, is hitting .424, and has recorded five doubles and seven RBI.  She is also 5-for-5 on the base paths.

Riffle Hits Big Blast: Ashleigh Riffle made her first collegiate home run a big one on Sunday in game one against Calumet.  Her grand slam put the Gray Wolves in front on the way to the victory.  Riffle had six runs batted in during the game, tying the school single game mark.

Sitting Them Down: Kirsten Smith has struck out 41 hitters in just 34.1 innings of work in the circle for the Gray Wolves.  She has walked just 13 and posted a 3.47 earned run average on her way to a 3-3 record through six appearances.

This and That: Sophia Dauterman is batting .412 (7-for-17) in eight appearances ... Megan Richardson has a team-high eight runs batted in ... the Gray Wolves are 21-of-25 in stolen base attempts ... Annalisse Palma has scored 10 times ... 21 of the 67 runs the Gray Wolves have allowed have been unearned this season ... Palma, Brooke Albert, Richardson, and Emily Wallace are the only Lourdes players to start all 11 games.