ADRIAN, Mich. – The Siena Heights softball team picked up two home wins against Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference opponent Lourdes, including a ten-inning game two. Score for the games were 4-1 and 9-8, respectively.
The Saints (21-13, 13-7 WHAC) started the scoring in game one with two runs, capitalizing on walks and errors as Taylor Mowery earned the lone hit of the first inning. Lourdes tallied a run in the top of the fourth, which was quickly answered by SHU as a single from Ward brought in Jordan Bianchi. Siena Heights again used walks to their advantage as a wild pitch allowed Lexi Agers to score.
Going 2-for-2 for the Saints was Mowery as Ward and Amy Nordstrom both earned a hit, Ward also with tow RBI. Three different Gray Wolves managed hits as Marissa Kostick earned the lone RBI.
Pitching the entire game for the Saints to earn the win was Racquel Ward, striking out one while allowing three hits and a run to earn the win. Brooke Gallaher threw six innings for the Gray Wolves as she allowed four hits and four runs, two earned, while walking six to take the loss.
In game two, both teams came out early as Lourdes sent three unearned runs across the place to open the game. A double by Ashley Helmink started of the four run-inning for SHU, as singles from Kelsey Cherry, Skylar Crenshaw and Hayley Turk helped the runners score. The Gray Wolves answered with four runs in the top of the second, making it 7-4, which would hold through the top of the seventh inning.
Mowery stated off the seventh inning with a single, followed by a Kris Forest double. A Cherry groundout brought in Mowery. Ward send one over the left field fence to bring in herself and Forest, tying it at 7-7. With a runner of first, Lourdes shortstop made a quick recovery play to hold the score at 7-7 and end the inning.
In the tenth inning, Lourdes (13-19, 5-9 WHAC) put another run on the board to earn an 8-7 lead. The Saints responded again as Mowery sent Jordan Bianchi home, both on base via error, to tie it 8-8. Forest hit another double with Mowery off to the races and beating the throw home for the 9-8 victory.
Forest helped SHU as she went 3-for-5, while Ward went 2-for-4 with two RBI for the Saints. Also earning two RBI for Siena Heights was Crenshaw. Kostick again led Lourdes as she went 3-for-4 while earning an RBI. The lone Gray Wolf with two RBI was Lindsay George, going 3-for-4.
Starting in the circle for the Saints was Lauren Valdez, pitching five innings and striking out three batters while allowing six hits and seven runs, only one earned. Ward relieved her in the sixth inning and earned the win as she struck out five batters, allowing six hits and one run. Kostick threw the entire game for the Gray Wolves as she took the loss, allowing 13 hits and six earned runs as she struck out two.
Next up, the Saints will host Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) on Saturday in a 1 p.m. non-conference double-header.