Complete Notes
Upcoming in Gray Wolves Softball: Warm weather will allow for the earliest start in program history for Lourdes University as the Gray Wolves open their 12th season of softball on Friday hosting Ohio Christian in a doubleheader at Gray Wolf Field.

Head Coach Caitlin Blanchard: In her third season on the Lourdes bench, Caitlin Blanchard has a 26-49 (.347) 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: Ohio Christian leads the all-time series against Lourdes 3-1 dating back to March 13, 2021.  The two schools last met in 2022, splitting a twinbill at Gray Wolf Field in the Trailblazers' lone appearance in Sylvania, Ohio.  Ohio Christian won the opener 13-5 before Lourdes took the nightcap 8-0.

Wrapping Up 2023: Lourdes finished the 2023 season 11-27 overall and 6-16 in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference.  The Gray Wolves placed 10th in the final WHAC regular season standings and did not qualify for the conference tournament.  

Scouting Ohio Christian: The Trailblazers went 19-26 overall and 9-20 in the River States Conference in 2023.  Ohio Christian has been picked to finish in seventh place in the league this year.  The Trailblazers return 10 players from last year's squad.  Kristin Gardner led Ohio Christian both at the plate and in the circle in 2023 and returns for her senior season.  At the plate she batted .409 while posting a 6-6 record with a 3.28 earned run average in the circle.  Kylee Bako posted a .321 batting average with a team-high 32 runs bated in while Emma Hastings hit .310 with four homers.  Hilarie Spltler was 8-9 in the circle with a 3.91 ERA and struck out a team-high 105 batters in 116.1 innings of work last year.

Location Change: The opening doubleheader against Ohio Christian was originally scheduled to be played indoors at Total Sports in Rossford.  However, with near record high temperatures forecasted in the lower 60s, the twinbill has been moved outdoors to Gray Wolf Field.  

Earliest Start Ever: With the first pitch of the season being thrown on Feb. 9, it will be the earliest the Gray Wolves have ever opened a campaign by 19 days.  The previous earliest start date was Feb. 28 when Lourdes opened the 2016 season in Florida.  The games will also mark the earliest that the Gray Wolves have ever played at home by more than three weeks.  Lourdes opened the 2023 season at Gray Wolf Field on March 1.

Lourdes in Season Openers: Lourdes enters its 12th year of softball with a 3-8 all-time record in season openers.  The Gray Wolves dropped their first game of the 2023 season by a score of 10-1 at home against sixth-ranked Indiana Wesleyan.  Lourdes is 0-2 all-time when opening the season at Gray Wolf Field.

Gray Wolves in Home Openers: This marks the second straight season that Lourdes has opened a campaign at home.  The Gray Wolves are 1-9 all-time in their first home game of the season, having not played a home contest during 2020 due to COVID-19.  Lourdes lone win in a home opener came on April 5, 2014, a 2-1 triumph over Northwestern Ohio.  The Gray Wolves are 0-3 in home openers since moving to Gray Wolf Field in 2021.

Top Returning Hitters: Maddie Darrah is back for her sophomore season after her rookie campaign was cut short due to injury.  She hit a team-leading .366 last season with 13 doubles.  Megan Richardson also batted over .300, hitting .303 with 12 runs batted in while Emily Wallace swung the bat at a .297 clip with three homers and 13 RBI.  Brooke Albert had a team-high 17 RBI last season while Olivia Hickman drove in 16 runs.

In the Circle: Lourdes returns a pair of hurlers for the 2024 season.  Berlyn Keller won a team-high five games last season and led the Gray Wolves with a 3.14 earned run average in 107 innings of work as a freshman.  Kirsten Smith picked up four victories in the circle and posted a 4.91 ERA while striking out a team-high 54 hitters in 67 innings of action.

On the Base Paths: Megan Richardson and Emily Wallace led the Gray Wolves with nine stolen bases each last season while Annalisse Palmas swiped eight bags.  As a team, Lourdes was 40-for-44 on the base paths.

In the Record Books: Emily Wallace ranks seventh in program history with 114 career hits and is tied for fifth on the home run charts with seven long balls.  Annalisse Palma ranks fifth with 67 runs scored and is ninth with 17 doubles.  Megan Richardson is tied for 10th having scored 52 times, is tied for ninth with 102 career hits, and is seventh with 23 doubles.  Brooke Albert is sixth with 25 doubles and 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 124-267 all-time entering the program's 13th season ... in three years at Gray Wolf Field, the team has posted a 13-35 record ... Lourdes is 8-20 all-time in extra inning games ... the Gray Wolves have 13 returnees, six freshmen, and three transfers on this year's roster.