CHARLESTON, W.Va. (March 6, 2009) - Lake Erie College headed south for its NCAA Division II debut with a schedule of eight games planned throughout the North Carolina and West Virginia area. Upon arrival to the sourthen most state in its trip, the Storm was met with snow and forced to cancel some of the games. The team did manage to pick up an additional opponent and finished the week with six contests under its belt.

The trip's opener originally scheduled against Catawba College out of Salisbury, N.C. was postponed along with day two action against Limestone College out of Gaffney, N.C. The Storm picked up a game with Pfeiffer University on the third day by playing at a neutral university field in Laurinburg, N.C. The Storm took the field for the first time this season after only a couple hours of practice outdoors, whereas Pfeiffer had already played in 17 games. Lake Erie scored its first runs as a Division II provisional member after a two hit, two run fourth inning with the hits coming from sophomore Brandon James (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor) and senior Harry Konrad (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor). It was the only inning the Storm scored as it finished the contest with seven hits and three errors. James was 2-for-4 on the day, along with freshman Matt Toth (Lorain, Ohio/Admiral King).  

The next day, Lake Erie played a double header with Mars Hill College, dropping the first game 6-3 before earning its first win of the season, 10-6. In the day's opener, the Storm fell behind 3-0 in the first inning before adding a run in the second and two more in the third on a two-run home run by freshman Ryan Rua (Amherst, Ohio/Amherst). The score stayed even until the sixth inning when Mars Hill plated three runs. Sophomore Nick Lovick (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor) and freshman Michael Morgan (Russells Point, Ohio/Indian Lake) had multiple hits for the Storm which totaled nine for the game. In the nightcap, the Storm opened the game with three runs in the top of the first on four hits, including a double by Toth, a triple by Rua, a home run by senior Ben Reed (Middlefield, Ohio/Cardinal) and a single by James. The green and white went on to score seven more runs on a total of 13 hits. Rua finished 3-for-4 with three runs and three RBIs after hitting two home runs. Other round trippers were recorded by James and Morgan. Freshman Cameron Castro (Lorain, Ohio/Southview) got the win in three and a third innings of relief in which he struck out one and gave up only two earned runs.  

The next day of competition included the postponed game against Catawba and a contest against No. 8 Lenoir-Rhyne University from Hickory, N.C. Lake Erie began with a 12-3 loss in which it totaled eight hits and four errors. Reed and senior John Shaposka (Mentor, Ohio/Cornerstone Christian) each went 2-for-4. Against Lenoir-Rhyne, Lake Erie again recorded eight hits, but only scored one run in a 20-1 loss to the nationally-ranked program. Toth was the only player with multiple hits - he had three.  

In the final day of the spring trip, the Storm came out hitting against the University of Charleston, scoring four runs in the top of the first backed by a trio of doubles by Reed, James and Morgan. Charleston countered an inning later with five runs and then scored two additional runs in the third, before both teams went scoreless the remainder of the way. James went 2-for-3 with one run and two RBIs.   For the trip, James led the Storm with a .474 average, going 9-for-19 with two doubles, a home run and six RBIs. He also had three runs scored and two stolen bases. Shaposka hit .412, going 7-for-17 with three runs and Toth hit .389 with seven hits in 18 at bats. Toth also added two extra base hits and two runs scored.   Rua recorded the lowest ERA at 0.00 in one and a third innings, with Castro checking in at 3.38 in five and one third innings with the only win for the week. Sophomore Tim Dempsey (Stow, Ohio/Western Reserve Academy) and freshman Michael Backes (Hubbard, Ohio/Hubbard) tied for the most strikeouts with four each.  

Lake Erie (1-5) remains on the road for a double header against Davis and Elkins on March 10.