Lourdes continued its final homestand of the season on Thursday afternoon, losing both ends of a doubleheader to the University of Northwestern Ohio 6-2 and 5-3 at Gray Wolf Field.
The Gray Wolves fell behind early in the opening game, as the Racers tallied a pair of runs in the top of the first to take the early advantage. Lourdes battled back, tying the game in the third.
Annalisse Palma (Battle Creek, Mich./Lakeview H.S.) reached on a bunt single with two runners on, and the throw to first went wild allowing pinch-runner
Madie Wallace (Sycamore, Ohio/Wynford H.S.) to score.
Megan Richardson (Napoleon, Ohio/Napoleon H.S.) followed with a sacrifice fly, plating
Maddy Bartos (Sylvania, Ohio/Northview H.S.), tying the game at two.
Lourdes would manage just two hits over the final four innings. Northwestern Ohio took the lead in the fourth on a RBI double and added three more runs in the seventh, including a two-out two-run home run.
Abby Cantrell (Gibsonburg, Ohio/Gibsonburg H.S.) had two of the Gray Wolves' four hits in the opener while
Kirsten Smith (Marysville, Mich./Marysville H.S.) went the distance in the circle, striking out seven.
Brooke Albert (Edgewood, Ky./Dixie Heights H.S.) put Lourdes in front in the second inning of game two with a lead-off home run, only to see the Racers tie the game in the third. The Gray Wolves retook the lead in the fourth. With two outs,
Ella Leonard (Lorain, Ohio/Midview H.S.) singled to left and the ball got away from the outfielder, allowing Cantrell and
Ashleigh Riffle (Lebanon, Ohio/Lebanon H.S.) to score, giving Lourdes a 3-1 lead.
Northwestern Ohio (14-4, 9-5 WHAC) plated one run in the fifth before taking the lead with a two-out double in the sixth. The Racers added an insurance run with back-to-back two-baggers in the seventh.
Leonard had two hits in game two as Lourdes managed just five against Carlie Hanes, who earned a pair of complete game wins in the circle for the Racers.
Milena Applegate (Jerome, Mich./Lumen Christi H.S.) worked 6.2 innings for Lourdes, fanning three.
Lourdes (12-17, 6-8) will close out the home portion of the schedule on Saturday afternoon as the Gray Wolves host Cleary for Senior Day. First pitch in game one of the doubleheader is set for 1 p.m. at Gray Wolf Field.