Complete Notes
Upcoming in Gray Wolves Baseball: Lourdes heads out on its annual spring trip this week, playing eight games in five days.  The Gray Wolves begin on Monday with a doubleheader at Indiana-Kokomo before heading to Marian and Oakland City.  The week wraps up with a four-game series at Bethel (Tenn.).

Head Coach Josh Bradford: In his fifth season in the Lourdes dugout, Josh Bradford has a 70-84 (.455) record at the helm of the Gray Wolves, as well as in his career as a collegiate head coach.  He is the third head coach in Lourdes program's history.

Probable Starters: Wyatt Smith (RHP, 0-1, 5.40) will be handed the baseball to get things going for the Gray Wolves on Monday in game one while Caleb Loboschefski (RHP, first appearance) will toe the rubber in game two at Indiana-Kokomo.  On Tuesday, Bryn Biemiller (RHP, 0-0, 0.00) will face Marian before Brenden Holland (LHP, 0-1, 67.50) toes the rubber Wednesday at Oakland City.  Jacob Emerson (RHP, 0-0, 0.00) will make his first start for Lourdes in game one on Friday at Bethel (Tenn.) with the game two starter yet to be determined.  Smith and Loboschefski will then return to the hill for Saturday's twinbill.

Series Notes: Indiana-Kokomo swept the only previous doubleheader against Lourdes, winning 20-4 and 7-6 at Mercy Field on April 13, 2021.  The Gray Wolves and Marian split their only previous twinbill, with the Knights winning 1-0 and the Gray Wolves posting a 6-3 win in eight innings on March 12, 2016 in Westfield, Ind.  Lourdes has never faced Oakland City or Bethel Tenn.) on the baseball diamond.

Wrapping Up Last Week: Lourdes opened its season last Sunday, dropping a doubleheader at West Virginia Tech.  The Golden Bears won the opener 3-1 despite five solid innings from Wyatt Smith and three innings of scoreless relief from Bryn Biemiller.  In game two, West Virginia Tech scored five in the first on the way to an 8-2 victory.  A.J. Brinson, Cord Noble, and Alex Dupree each had a hit in both games of the doubleheader for Lourdes.

Scouting Indiana-Kokomo: The Cougars were swept in a doubleheader by Saint Francis (Ind.) on Sunday, Feb. 25 and host Point Park in a three-game series before facing Lourdes.  Kasey Ross is hitting .429 with 12 RBI to lead the offense while Mike Talesky has two homers and is hitting .381.

Scouting Marian: The Knights split a doubleheader with Tougaloo on Sunday, Feb. 25 and plays Goshen in a four-game series before hosting Lourdes.  Dawson Estep is hitting .436 with 13 RBI while Pierson Barnes has a .423 average.

Scouting Oakland City: The Mighty Oaks have won four straight after defeating Asbury 13-1 on Monday, Feb. 26.  Oakland City plays three games against Ohio Christian and one against Bethel (Tenn.) before facing Lourdes.  Alec Pruitt is hitting .414 while Leyton Ivers has a .400 average.  Xander Willis has three home runs and 14 RBI.

Scouting Bethel (Tenn.): The Wildcats have won eight straight after sweeping Michigan-Dearborn in a doubleheader on Sunday, Feb. 25.  Bethel plays Briar Cliff in a three-game series and has a game with Oakland City before hosting Lourdes.  Noah Foster leads the team batting .435 with 21 RBI while Juan Diego Ramos is hitting .400 with three homers and 20 RBI.

Gray Wolves Tabbed Eighth in WHAC Preseason Poll: Lourdes was picked to finish eighth in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference in the 2024 preseason poll conducted of the league's head coaches.  The Gray Wolves were slotted just behind Cleary and just ahead of Cornerstone.  Concordia (Mich.) was tabbed as the preseason favorite by a unanimous vote.

Solid Bullpen Work: The Gray Wolves used six pitchers out of the bullpen last Sunday at West Virginia Tech in the doubleheader.  Four of the hurlers tossed a combined seven innings of scoreless baseball, limiting the Golden Bears to just four hits over the span.

Solid Debut: Alex Dupree had a strong showing in his collegiate debut for the Gray Wolves.  The freshman had a hit in each game, including a double, and handed all 15 of his chances at first base flawlessly.

Bats Quiet to Open: Lourdes managed just 10 hits in the two games at West Virginia Tech to open the season, only one of which was for extra bases.  The Gray Wolves hit just .156 as a team while posting a .214 on base percentage.

This and That: Lourdes is 185-325-1 all-time in its 13th season intercollegiate baseball ... the Gray Wolves are 66-172-1 in true road games ... Lourdes is 21-16 all-time in extra inning affairs after going 4-2 last season ... the Gray Wolves are playing their first 13 games away from home before a 10-game homestand begins in mid-March.