Complete Notes
Upcoming in Gray Wolves Softball: After a 10-day layoff due to a postponement, Lourdes begins a 10-game road trip this week, playing four doubleheaders in six days.  The Gray Wolves head to Thomas More and Saint Francis (Ill.) on Tuesday and Thursday respectively before opening WHAC play at Rochester (Mich.) on Saturday and finishing the weekend at Lawrence Tech on Sunday.

Head Coach Caitlin Blanchard: In her second season on the Lourdes bench, Caitlin Blanchard has a 20-31 (.392) 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 is 3-0 all-time against Lourdes in a series that began March 16, 2021.  Last year the Saints swept a doubleheader at Gray Wolf Field 11-6 and 20-9.  Saint Francis (Ill.) leads the all-time series against the Gray Wolves 3-0 dating back to March 7, 2013.  The Saints won a doubleheader at Pacesetter Park in the last meeting, 11-3 and 12-3 during the 2018 season.  Lourdes holds a 6-2 edge against Rochester (Mich.) dating back to April 4, 2017.  The Gray Wolves swept a twinbill at Gray Wolf Field last season 6-2 and 4-3.  Lawrence Tech is 9-1 against Lourdes in a series that began March 29, 2017.  Last year the two schools split a doubleheader at Gray Wolf Field with Lourdes winning the opener 10-2 before the Blue Devils won game two 6-5.

Wrapping Up Last Week: The home doubleheader against Malone slated for Wednesday was postponed and will be made up on April 4.

Scouting Thomas More: The Saints have won three straight after sweeping a three-game weekend series from Cumberland (Tenn.).  Hailey McAdoo is hitting .452 on the season while Karys Black has seven home runs and 23 RBI.  The pitching staff sports a 5.10 earned run average.

Scouting Saint Francis (Ill.): The Saints have won two straight entering the week but have been idle since March 11.  Saint Francis plays IUPUC on Tuesday.  Danielle Callahan is hitting .424 with two homers and 18 RBI for the Saints while the pitching staff sports a 2.72 ERA.

Scouting Rochester (Mich.): The Warriors have been idle since March 9 when they lost to North Carolina Wesleyan but defeated Bay Path.  Elizabeth Bees leads the team with a .556 batting average and four runs batted in.  The pitchers sport an 8.75 earned run average this season.

Scouting Lawrence Tech: The Blue Devils have not played since falling to Saint Francis (Ind.) and defeating West Virginia Tech on March 11.  Lawrence Tech hosts Siena Heights on Saturday.  Alyssa Bloomfield is hitting a team-high .404 while Morgan James and Callie Tatum have nine RBI each.  The pitching staff has posted a 2.50 earned run average this season.

Bonus Softball: Lourdes has reversed its fortune in extra inning games thus far this season.  The Gray Wolves entered the season just 5-19 in games that went beyond seven innings in program history and had dropped six straight such games since the start of the 2019 season.  Lourdes defeated Fort Lauderdale in eight innings and Trinity Christian in nine innings in Florida.

Driving In Runs: Maddy Bartos had a four-RBI game for the Gray Wolves in the win over Fisher.  The junior catcher had just one run batted in over 36 games during her first two seasons with the Gray Wolves and now has five already this year in nine appearances.

Freshmen Swinging a Hot Bat: A pair of rookies have led the Gray Wolf offense through the first third of the season.  Maddie Darrah is hitting .455 (15-for-33) with seven doubles and slugging .667 in her collegiate debut.  Darrah has scored five times and driven in six.  Olivia Hickman, another freshman, has 13 hits in 37 at bats and is second in the team in batting average (.351).  She also has six RBI.

Dealing in the Circle: Freshman Berlynn Keller has led the Gray Wolf pitching staff in the circle thus far this season.  The rookie is 3-3 with a 3.30 earned run average.  In a team-leading 40.1 innings of work, she has 20 strikeouts while limiting opposing hitters to a .276 batting average.

Swiping Bases: Annalisse Palma ranks fifth in program history with 24 career stolen bases.  She is 3-for-3 this season and 24-of-27 during her three years at Lourdes.  She needs four more thefts to equal Bre Megyesi's fourth place career total of 28 steals.  Megan Richardson leads Lourdes on the base paths this season with five steals in six attempts.

Gray Wolves Tabbed 10th in WHAC Preseason Poll: Lourdes was picked to finish in 10th place in the WHAC this season according to the league head coaches in their annual preseason balloting.  The Gray Wolves were selected just behind Siena Heights and just ahead of Cleary in the poll.  Michigan-Dearborn was tabbed as the preseason favorites.

This and That: Brooke Albert's triple this season was the fifth of her career, moving her into fifth place alone on the career charts ... Katie Devine has been hit by three pitches this season and 12 for her career, fourth most in program history ... 17 different Gray Wolves have started at least one game this season.