COLUMBIA, Ky. -  The Lourdes baseball team (5-5, 0-0 in WHAC) defeated Lindsey-Wilson (7-11, 0-0 in MSC) in both games this afternoon, winning the first game 8-7 and the second game 4-3.

With conference play just a couple of weeks away, Lourdes has the fourth-best overall record in the WHAC 10 games into the season.

The double header was postponed three times due to rain. When the games finally were able to be played in the late afternoon and early evening, Lourdes made the most of the opportunity.

Game 1: W, 8-7
The Gray Wolves started the first game off hot with a three-run first inning. Lourdes third baseman Landon Brown continued his run production streak with an RBI ground out that scored leadoff man A.J Brinson. Then, power-hitting first baseman Alex Dupree knocked in two more Gray Wolves with an RBI single to right field. Dupree led the offense in the victory with three RBI's, two hits and reaching base in three out of four plate appearances.

Despite the fast start, the Blue Raiders started putting together quality at-bats against Lourdes' ace Brenden Holland. LWU scored five unanswered runs in the first two innings to take a two-run lead heading into the third.

Holland started to settle down over the next three frames, striking out five batters and not allowing another run across the plate. Holland also threw no walks, which limited the Blue Raiders' base traffic.

The Lourdes offense responded to the improved pitching with a solo home run by junior right fielder Jase Kennedy in the third inning. The bomb was followed up with an Alex Dupree solo shot in the fifth inning, tying the game at five with two innings to play.

A four-hit sixth inning broke the game open for Lourdes, culminating in a two-RBI single to right field by DH Layne Vance. Lourdes ended up leading 8-5 heading into the final frame.

Nathan Ball came in to try and close the door on the Blue Raiders. However, he let up a leadoff home run and back-to-back base runners.

Freshman Ryan DeShelter came in for relief with a two-run lead and a bit of a jam. DeShelter walked the leadoff man to load the bases with still nobody out and the Gray Wolves up by two. Calm under pressure, the young Sylvania Southview product got the next LWU player to strikeout. The next batter grounded out up the middle to score another run, but tallying a second out on the box score.

DeShelter had two outs with the tying run at third base and ended the game by getting the LWU bottom hitter to ground out to Landon Brown at third base.

The Gray Wolves escaped with an impressive game one victory, showcasing some of their best offensive output of the year, while also playing a clean game defensively and pitching solid throughout.

Game 2: W, 4-3
The second game was a pitcher's duel for the most part of the night. Freshman J.J Foti got the start for Lourdes and put out his best performance of his young career, throwing five innings with five strikeouts and just one earned run.

Lindsey-Wilson led the game 2-0 after a run was scored via a Lourdes error in the first inning and another run came home in the second with a sacrifice fly.

The Blue Raiders starter was Jack Ballou, who gave up one unearned run in four innings of work, exiting the game with a 2-1 lead heading into the fifth. The lone hiccup in Ballou's start was that he threw five walks, allowing his pitch count to get in the high 80's. This resulted in LWU going to their bullpen in the fifth inning, allowing Lourdes' offense to come to life.

The Gray Wolves finally took the lead in the top of the sixth when Alex Dupree hit a two-RBI double with two outs to put Lourdes up 3-2. Senior catcher Andrew Arnston joined the hit party in the seventh with an RBI single that put Lourdes up 4-2.

Pitching in relief for Foti was junior Zane Mullins. Mullins walked the first Blue Raiders batter in the bottom half of the seventh. The leadoff hitter then advanced to second on a fly ball out to centerfield and then advanced to third base on a wild pitch.

After a groundout made the second out, a LWU single put the Blue Raiders within a run of Lourdes. Bryce Sidler, the Blue Raiders No. 2 hitter made the final out on a popup to first base as Lourdes once again won by a run.

Stats
Offensively, Lourdes had 12 runs and 12 hits combined over the two games. Leading the way was Alex Dupree who had a home run, five RBI's, an .800 average and an .875 OBP% on the day. Dupree currently leads the team with eight RBI's on the year. He also leads the team in players that have played all 10 games with a .300 average. On the mound, Brenden Holland's victory pushes the ace to 2-0 on the year. J.J Foti has a 3.31 E.R.A and is leading the team with 14 strikeouts on the season. Ryan DeShelter now leads the team with two saves in his freshman campaign, and has only given up one hit this season.

Coach Bradford's Postgame Comments
"I'm really proud of the energy we brought today for all 14 innings," Coach Bradford said. "When the games got tight, we didn't flinch. We stuck to our plan. We got some big pitches and got some clutch hits."

Next Up
Lourdes will look for the series sweep and to push their record over .500 as they take on Lindsey-Wilson on Monday, March 9, at noon.