Complete Notes
Upcoming in Gray Wolves Softball: Off to the best start in program history, Lourdes takes to the road for the first time in 2024 on Wednesday afternoon.  The Gray Wolves head to 14th-ranked Indiana Wesleyan for a doubleheader, looking to carry over its February momentum.

Head Coach Caitlin Blanchard: In her third season on the Lourdes bench, Caitlin Blanchard has a 30-49 (.380) 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: Indiana Wesleyan is 3-0 all-time against Lourdes in a series that began March 11, 2022.  The Wildcats swept a doubleheader from the Gray Wolves to open the 2023 season by scores of 10-1 and 11-0 at Gray Wolf Field.  This will be Lourdes first trip to battle Indiana Wesleyan on the Wildcats' home field.

Wrapping Up Last Week: Playing indoors for the first time in program history, Lourdes swept a doubleheader from Huntington 2-1 and 7-1 inside Total Sports.  In the opener, Kirsten Smith went 6.1 innings for the win, striking out six, while Olivia Hickman and Jaylen Jackson both drove home runs.  Berlynn Keller picked up the victory in game two, fanning four in 6.2 innings of work.  Hickman was 4-for-4 with three RBI while Rachel Mease went 3-for-4 and scored three runs.

Scouting Indiana Wesleyan: The Wildcats went 40-15 overall and 28-8 in the Crossroads League in 2023, advancing to the Opening Round of the NAIA National Championships.  Indiana Wesleyan will be making its 2024 debut against the Gray Wolves.  The Wildcats return 17 players from last year's squad.  Zoe Fountain is the team's top returning hitter after batting .356 one year ago Kamryn Buck hit eight home runs and drove in 27 runs.  In the circle, Alyssa Wagner was 21-7 with a 1.58 earned run average, striking out 168 hitters in 177 innings of work.  Emma Etter-Cox went 16-3 with a 2.70 ERA, fanning 92 in 127 innings. 

Moving Dates and Locations: The doubleheader against Indiana Wesleyan was originally scheduled for Saturday (Feb. 24), but has been moved up to Wednesday (Feb. 21) due to a better weather forecast.  In addition, the game has been moved to Converse, Ind. and Oak Hill High School instead of on the Wildcats' campus.

Hickman Earns WHAC Honor: Olivia Hickman was named the WHAC Player of the Week after batting .714 (5-for-7) with four RBI in the doubleheader sweep against Huntington.  She was 4-for-4 in game two with three runs batted in, a double, and a stolen base.

Best Start in Program History: Lourdes has started the season 4-0 for the first time in program history.  Prior to this season, the Gray Wolves' best previous start was 2-0 to open the 2022 campaign.  The previous fastest start to four victories came in 2016 when Lourdes opened the year 4-4.

Solid in the Circle: Lourdes hurlers have done their job in the circle through the first four games of the season, combining for a 1.81 earned run average and limiting the opposition to a .257 batting average.  Kirsten Smith has two wins and has struck out 10 in 13.1 innings while posting a 2.10 earned run average.  Berlynn Keller has a 2.17 ERA in two starts while Taylor Leggins has yet to allow an earned run, holding opponents to a 1.88 ERA while picking up a win and a save.

Offensive Production: Lourdes is batting .387 as a team with 41 hits through four games.  The Gray Wolves have scored 30 runs and banged out 10 extra bases hits in the first two twinbills.  Emily Wallace leads the way with a .667 average while Olivia Hickman is hitting .600 with nine RBI.  Annalisse Palma has the team's lone home run and is hitting .429 while Rachel Mease is also hitting over .400 at .417.

Getting on Base: Emily Wallace, Olivia Hickman, Megan Richardson, and Rachel Mease have all reached base safely in each of the four games this season.  Hickman has hit safely in all four while Richardson and Wallace have current three-game hitting streaks.

Facing Ranked Foes: Indiana Wesleyan will be the first ranked opponent the Gray Wolves will face in 2024.  All-time, Lourdes is 2-32 against ranked opponents with its last win coming at #14 Aquinas, 10-5, on April 26, 2022.

Lourdes Debuts: Lindsey McGann, Alexia Moussaed, and Lauren Schueller all made their Gray Wolf debuts against Huntington.  McGann had a RBI single in game one.

In the Record Books: Emily Wallace has moved into fourth in program history with 120 career hits and is tied for fifth on the home run charts with seven long balls.  Annalisse Palma ranks fifth with 71 runs scored, is eighth with 19 doubles, and tied for eighth with five home runs.  Megan Richardson is eighth having scored 56 times, is ninth with 105 career hits, and is seventh with 23 doubles.  Brooke Albert is sixth with 25 doubles and tied for eighth with five career homers.

Gray Wolves Tabbed Ninth in WHAC Preseason Poll: Lourdes was picked to finish in a tie with Siena Heights for ninth place in the WHAC this season according to the league head coaches in their annual preseason balloting.  The Gray Wolves were selected just behind Michigan-Dearborn.  Concordia (Mich.)was tabbed as the preseason favorites.

This and That: Lourdes is 128-267 all-time in the program's 13th season ... Lourdes is 8-20 all-time in extra inning games ... the team has posted a .438 on base percentage and stolen six bases.