FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The 7
th-seeded Lourdes softball team (13-18, 9-11 in WHAC) lost 0-1 against 2
nd-seeded (RV) Indiana Tech (31-14, 14-6 in WHAC), but defeated 6
th-seeded Michigan-Dearborn (16-22, 10-10 in WHAC) 4-1 to stay alive in the WHAC Tournament.
The Friday afternoon doubleheader was a wild turn of events that culminated in Lourdes making the cut for the final six teams in the conference postseason. Lourdes has defeated Michigan-Dearborn three straight times in an elimination scenario over the last week to keep their season going.
The win against Michigan-Dearborn marks the first time in program history a Lourdes softball team has won 10 games against WHAC opponents in a single season.
Game 1 vs. #2 (RV) Indiana Tech: L, 0-1
Indiana Tech is one of two teams in the WHAC with over 30 wins and they showed why against Lourdes. The pitching from Indiana Tech's 1
st-team All-WHAC ace Savannah Bravo was on point throughout the game, not allowing a single Lourdes runner past second base.
Bravo gave up four hits to the Lourdes offense, while only walking one batter. Meanwhile, Lourdes pitcher
Mallori Bradley also only gave up four hits, while walking only two Warriors' hitters.
The only run scored in the game was on a 4
th-inning solo home run by Indiana Tech's Carlye Walter. Overall, Lourdes played exceptional defense and Bradley pitched extremely efficiently. The offense just wasn't enough to overcome the Walter home run as Lourdes' backs were immediately pushed against the wall for the double-elimination tournament.
Game 2 vs. #6 Michigan-Dearborn: W, 4-1
Needing to win the next four games in a row to make the WHAC Tournament Championship Series, it would have been very easy for Lourdes to cave under the pressure. But like they've done all season, the Gray Wolves rose through the adversity and jolted their offense back to life in game two.
Sophomore third baseman
Olivia Rompf reached base in the second inning on an error by the Wolverines leftfielder. Rompf made the most of the miscue by taking second on the throw and third on a wild pitch. Then, without a single hit on the board,
Ava Auler hit a sacrifice fly to take a 1-0 lead.
In the third inning, senior catcher
Maddie Darrah hit her first home run of the season to take a 2-0 lead. Later in the inning,
Lindsey McGann hit an RBI single to score
Robyn Ryan from third base and extend the lead to 3-0.
Michigan-Dearborn got a run back in the third on a Braylin Grueter triple, but that would be all they'd get in the game off of Lourdes' starting pitcher
Cassi Kieper. The sophomore Siena Heights transfer gave up just five hits on a 77-pitch complete game performance.
Maddie Darrah continued her big afternoon with an RBI single in the fourth inning, tacking on an insurance run to help seal the three-run victory.
Next Up
Michigan-Dearborn and Aquinas have both been eliminated in the WHAC Tournament double-elimination bracket. Madonna, Cornerstone and UNOH remain from the Livonia bracket. Meanwhile, Lourdes, Indiana Tech, and Lawrence Tech remain from the Fort Wayne bracket.
Lourdes will play at 3pm tomorrow against the loser of the Indiana Tech vs. Lawrence Tech game. The winner of the 3pm game will move onto the tournament semifinals on Sunday.
