PAINESVILLE, Ohio (March 24, 2009) - Lake Erie College split with Notre Dame College Tuesday afternoon, losing 11-4 and winning 7-5 after senior Ben Reed (Middlefield, Ohio/Cardinal) hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Storm totaled 15 hits on the day and junior hurler Vince Hug (Eastlake, Ohio/North) improved to 2-0 on the season.

In the first game, Lake Erie led 2-0 until a four-run fourth inning for the visitors followed by a two-run fifth inning put the Falcons up for good. The Storm scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning after sophomore Brandon James (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor) led off with a single and senior pinch hitter Ben Willis (Akron, Ohio/Coventry) put one over the fence on the first pitch he saw, marking the first home run of his collegiate career. Lake Erie then trailed 6-4, however the Falcons put up five runs in the seventh. Lake Erie had seven hits in the game and five errors. Freshman Matt Toth (Lorain, Ohio/Admiral King) went 2-for-3 with two runs.

In game two, Lake Erie held a 3-1 lead after three innings but Notre Dame tied things in the top of the fourth. The Storm answered in the bottom half of the inning with two runs on two hits - singles from Willis and sophomore Dan Dowdell (North Ridgeville, Ohio/North Ridgeville). Notre Dame scored two runs in the sixth to even things out once again. The guests had runners on second and third with two outs in the seventh when the Storm's Hug fanned the hitter along with the Falcons' opportunity to go ahead. In the bottom of the inning, freshman Ryan Rua (Amherst, Ohio/Amherst) singled to get things started before Reed finished it with a long ball over the center field fence. Lake Erie had eight hits in the game with Rua going 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs and Reed going 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs. Hug got the win in one inning of relief.

Lake Erie (3-14) will play a nine-inning game at Baldwin Wallace at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday.