SYLVANIA, Ohio - The University of Michigan-Dearborn softball team opened the 2018 Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference season with a doubleheader Wednesday in Sylvania, Ohio.

The Gray Wolves stifled the Wolverine bats through five innings in the first game, but UM-Dearborn rallied to tie the score at 2-2 in the seventh to force extras. Despite a strong outing from starting pitcher Gina Verduzco (SR/Portage, MI), Lourdes was able to find the winning run in the bottom of the 10^th to take the contest 3-2.

In game two, Lourdes scored three in the second and never trailed, holding off the Wolverines in the seventh to earn the sweep with a 5-3 win. The losses drop UM-Dearborn to 8-8 overall and 0-2 in the WHAC.

Verduzco pitched 9.2 innings in the opener, allowing three runs on eight hits, while walking two and striking out three. She also came through with the first UM-Dearborn RBI of the game, driving in Jordan Ewald (SR/Wixom, MI) with a double in the sixth. Verduzco finished with two hits in the game.

The Wolverines tied the score on an RBI single from Kayla Laquiere (SO/Shelby Twp., MI) in the seventh, scoring Rachel Dolland (JR/Lake Orion, MI). Sydnee Behlmer drove in the game-winning run with a sacrifice fly in the 10^th for Lourdes.

The Gray Wolves took an early advantage with three runs in the second inning of game two. After Dolland drove in the first UM-Dearborn run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth, Lourdes added two more to move in front 5-1.

The Wolverines looked poised for another rally in the seventh after the first four runners reached, including an RBI single from Olivia Cottom (SO/Holt, MI), but Lourdes got a double play to end the UM-Dearborn threat.

The Wolverines continue WHAC play in a doubleheader against Cornerstone University at 1 pm Saturday in Grand Rapids, Mich.