DEARBORN, Mich. (LourdesAthletics.com) – The Lourdes University softball team split its road doubleheader against the University of Michigan-Dearborn on Saturday, falling 8-7 in a back-and-forth Game 2 after winning 7-5 in Game 1 at Founders Sports Park.
Game One: Lourdes 10, Michigan-Dearborn 2 (6 Innings)
Michigan-Dearborn struck first in the opening inning, with an RBI single for a 1-0 lead. Lourdes responded in the fourth inning with back-to-back home runs from Lindsey McGann and Maddie Darrah, giving the Gray Wolves a 2-1 advantage. Olivia Hickman extended the lead in the sixth inning with a solo home run, making it 3-1. Michigan-Dearborn cut into the lead in the bottom of the sixth with a homer of their own, bringing the score to 3-2, but Lourdes held on to the lead for the remainder of the game.
Kirsten Smith (3-4) earned the victory for Lourdes, pitching the full 7 innings, allowing 5 hits, 2 runs (both earned), walking 2, and striking out 5. She also recorded a save in the contest. Michigan-Dearborn's S. Uhlenberg (7-10) took the loss, despite striking out 10 batters in 6.2 innings of work. Lourdes finished the game with 3 runs on 6 hits and no errors, while Michigan-Dearborn had 2 runs on 5 hits and 1 error.
Game Two: Michigan-Dearborn 8, Lourdes 7Â
In the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, Michigan-Dearborn secured an 8-7 win over Lourdes, breaking a 5-5 tie with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Lourdes got on the board first in the opening inning when Olivia Hickman doubled to left center to drive in Jessyca Smith for a 1-0 lead. Michigan-Dearborn responded in the bottom of the first with a 2-run homer, putting them ahead 2-1. The Wolverines extended their lead in the third with three more runs, including an RBI sacrifice fly and a 2-RBI single to make it 5-1. Lourdes mounted a comeback in the fourth, scoring four runs to tie the game at 5-5. The Gray Wolves capitalized on a fielder's choice, a 2-RBI single by Smith, and an RBI single from Brooke Albert to complete the rally.
However, Michigan-Dearborn regained control in the sixth inning, as the Wolverines homered, and capitalized on a couple of wild pitches and an RBI groundout to pull ahead 8-7. Lourdes' offense struggled to answer in the final frame, and Michigan-Dearborn held on for the win.
S. Uhlenberg (4-4) earned the victory in relief for Michigan-Dearborn, allowing no runs on two hits in 1.1 innings of work, while Berlynn Keller (0-1) took the loss for Lourdes after allowing three runs in 3.2 innings of relief. The Gray Wolves finished with 7 runs on 7 hits, while Michigan-Dearborn recorded 8 runs on 8 hits.
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