SYLVANIA, Ohio (LourdesAthletics.com) -- The Lourdes University softball team hosted Madonna University in a doubleheader on Friday, April 25, at Gray Wolf Field, making up for their postponed games from April 2. In the first game, the Gray Wolves fell 15-3, and in Game 2, despite a strong rally, they were defeated 16-8. Both games were part of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference schedule.
Game One: Lourdes 3, Madonna 15
The Crusaders came out swinging, putting up four runs in the first and adding three more in the third to take a 7-0 lead. They tacked on two more in the fourth before breaking things open with a six-run fifth that included a three-run homer.
The Gray Wolves got on the board in the fourth when Lindsey McGann scored during a rundown play. Lourdes added two more in the fifth as Alyssa Goretzka and Jessyca Smith came around to score. Taylor Leggins drove in a run with a single to center, and Liv Hussar drew a bases-loaded walk to force in another.
Goretzka led the offense with a pair of hits, including a double. Karlei Conard made her first start in the circle and was tagged with the loss.
Game Two: Lourdes 8, Madonna 16
Lourdes softball put together a huge fourth-inning comeback, but visiting Madonna responded with a 10-run fifth inning to claim a 16-8 victory in Game 2 of Friday's doubleheader.
After falling behind 6-0, the Gray Wolves erupted for six runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie things up. Lindsey McGann got Lourdes on the board with an RBI single, and hits from Maddie Darrah and Robyn Ryan helped continue the momentum. A two-run error and an RBI double by Abby Stanfield capped the inning.
The rally was short-lived, though, as Madonna answered with 10 runs on seven hits and three walks in the fifth to put the game out of reach. The Crusaders finished with 12 hits and took advantage of eight walks.
Ryan went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Stanfield added two hits and a run driven in. Taylor Leggins pitched 4.1 innings in the start and also doubled at the plate.
