FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. (LourdesAthletics.com) -- The
Lourdes University softball team came up short in both games of a Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon, falling 5-4 and 7-6 to Lawrence Tech University at the LTU Softball Field in Farmington Hills, Mich. Despite a late-game comeback attempt in the second game and a multi-hit effort from
Maddie Darrah in each contest, the Gray Wolves were unable to complete the rally in either outing. With the losses, Lourdes falls to 7-14 overall and 4-8 in WHAC play.
Game One: Lawrence Tech 5, Lourdes 4
Lourdes jumped out to an early lead, but a three-run fourth inning by Lawrence Tech proved to be the difference as the Gray Wolves dropped the opening game of Saturday's WHAC doubleheader 5-4.
The Gray Wolves wasted no time getting on the board, striking for four runs in the top of the first inning. Maddie Darrah launched a two-run home run to left field—her second of the season—to plate Lindsey McGann and open the scoring. Alyssa Goretzka followed with a two-run double later in the inning, bringing home Taylor Leggins and Liv Hussar for a 4-0 Lourdes advantage.
Lawrence Tech responded with a solo home run in the bottom of the inning, then added another run on a sacrifice fly in the second to cut the Lourdes lead in half. The Blue Devils then surged ahead in the fourth, as two straight doubles gave the hosts a 5-4 lead.
Despite totaling nine hits—including multi-hit efforts from Darrah, Olivia Hickman, and Lauren Schuller—Lourdes was unable to push across another run. The Gray Wolves had runners on base in each of the final three innings but could not convert.
Mallori Bradley (3-4) was tagged with the loss, surrendering four earned runs over 3.1 innings. Kirsten Smith pitched 2.2 innings of relief, allowing one run while walking two. Lawrence Tech's S. Basket earned the win, working four innings before giving way to S. Mayer, who tossed three scoreless frames for the save.
Game Two: Lawrence Tech 7, Lourdes 6
Lourdes pushed across four runs in the top of the seventh inning, but the Gray Wolves came up just short in a 7-6 loss to Lawrence Tech in the second game of the WHAC doubleheader.
Maddie Darrah put Lourdes on the board early with a two-run homer in the first inning—her second long ball of the day and third of the season. The Gray Wolves held that 2-0 lead until the Blue Devils responded with a run in the fourth and six more in the fifth, highlighted by a grand slam.
Trailing 7-2 heading into the final inning, Lourdes mounted a comeback. Darrah struck again, blasting her third homer of the day—a three-run shot to left center—to cut the deficit to one. Jessyca Smith followed with an RBI single to bring Lourdes within a run, but the Gray Wolves stranded the tying run on second base.
Darrah finished 2-for-4 with five RBI and two homers, while Smith added three hits and an RBI. Robyn Ryan doubled and scored a run, and De'Vona Holmes came off the bench with a pinch-hit single in the seventh.
Berlynn Keller (0-2) suffered the loss, allowing four runs over 4.2 innings. Karlei Conrad and Kirsten Smith combined for the final 1.1 innings in relief. S. Mayer earned the win for Lawrence Tech, scattering six hits over 6.2 innings.
Up Next:
The Gray Wolves return home on Tuesday, April 15, for a WHAC doubleheader against Aquinas College at Gray Wolf Field. The games are makeup contests originally scheduled for April 1. First pitch of game one is set for 3:30 p.m., with game two to follow at approximately 5:30 p.m.
