Complete Notes
Upcoming in Gray Wolves Softball: Lourdes returns to Gray Wolf Field for the final time before taking to the road for 16 straight games on Monday afternoon.  The Gray Wolves host Malone in a doubleheader that was moved up one day due to weather.

Head Coach Caitlin Blanchard: In her third season on the Lourdes bench, Caitlin Blanchard has a 30-51 (.370) 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 split their only previous doubleheader which was played in Canton, Ohio on March 22, 2022.  The Gray Wolves won the opener from the Pioneers 7-6 before Malone took the nightcap 2-1.  This will be Malone's first appearance at Gray Wolf Field.

Wrapping Up Last Week: Lourdes took to the road for the first time this season, dropping a doubleheader at #14 Indiana Wesleyan last Wednesday (Feb. 21).  The Wildcats won the opener 11-3.  Jaylen Jackson hit a two-run home run for the Gray Wolves in game one.  In game two, Indiana Wesleyan posted an 8-5 triumph.  Megan Richardson was 2-for-4 with three runs batted in for the Gray Wolves in game two while Lindsey McGann also had two hits.

Scouting Malone: The Pioneers opened their season on Friday, splitting a neutral site doubleheader against D'Youville.  Malone dropped the opener 11-5 before bounding back in game two with an 11-0 win.  Grace Kissick is hitting 1.000 (4-for-4) on the young season with four runs batted in while Madi Pukansky has a .67 batting average.  In the circle, Kissick tossed a shutout in game two, striking out seven while throwing a no-hitter. 

Moving Dates: For the third time in the first four scheduled doubleheaders, there is a change to either the date or location of the twinbill.  Lourdes and Malone have moved the doubleheader up one day from its original Tuesday schedule due to forecasted inclement weather.  The Gray Wolves moved their first games against Ohio Christian from indoors to outside while the doubleheader at Indiana Wesleyan was moved up three days because of weather.

Best Start in Program History: Lourdes has started the season 4-2 for the first time in program history.  Prior to this season, the Gray Wolves' best previous six game start was 3-3 to open the 2015 and 2016 campaigns.  The previous fastest start to four victories came in 2016 when Lourdes opened the year 4-4.

Leggins Leads the Way in the Circle: Taylor Leggins has been strong in relief to begin her collegiate career.  The freshman hurler had made five appearances, posting a 1-0 record with a save while throwing 11.1 innings.  She has posted a 2.47 earned run average while limiting opponents to a .167 batting average.

Offensive Production: Lourdes is batting .336 as a team with 51 hits through six games.  The Gray Wolves have scored 38 runs and banged out 15 extra bases hits in the first three twinbills.  Emily Wallace leads the way with a .667 average while Olivia Hickman is hitting .450 with three doubles and nine RBI.  Rachel Mease is hitting .2389 while Megan Richardson has seven RBI.

Getting on Base: Megan Richardson and Rachel Mease have all reached base safely in each of the six games this season.  Richardson also has a five-game hitting streak entering Monday's doubleheader.

Going Deep: Jaylen Jackson hit her first collegiate home run in game one of the doubleheader at Indiana Wesleyan.  It was just the second round-tripper of the season for the Gray Wolves, with Annalisse Palma hitting the other against Ohio Christian.

On the Base Paths: Lourdes is 9-for-11 in stolen base attempts this season.  Jaylen Jackson leads the way with three swipes already this year while Rachel Mease and Annalisse Palma each have two steals.

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 57 times, is eighth with 108 career hits, and is tied for sixth with 25 doubles.  Brooke Albert is tied for 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 128-269 all-time in the program's 13th season ... Lourdes is 8-20 all-time in extra inning games ... the team has posted a .419 on base percentage ... the Gray Wolves have not yielded a sacrifice bunt yet this year defensively.