PAINESVILLE, Ohio (April 15, 2009) - In a heated battle
Wednesday afternoon, Lake Erie College came away with a split
against Salem International University, losing 9-5 before going on
to win 10-3 in the nightcap.
In the opener, the Storm trailed 3-0 heading into the bottom of
the fifth inning, but cut the deficit to one after a two run, three
hit inning that began with a lead off single by sophomore Brandon
James (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor). Another single by senior John Shaposka
(Mentor, Ohio/Cornerstone Christian) and a two RBI double by
freshman Matt Vanni (Willowick, Ohio/Benedictine) put the Storm
within striking distance. Salem responded with three runs in the
sixth, but Lake Erie followed suit with three runs and three hits
of its own in the bottom half of the inning with a double by senior
Ben Reed (Middlefield, Ohio/Cardinal), a single by freshman Matt
Lott (Newark, Ohio/Newark Catholic) and a home run by Shaposka.
Salem added three more runs in the seventh to earn the win and end
Lake Erie's five-game winning streak.
Lake Erie had eight hits in the game with Shaposka going 2-for-3
with two runs and three RBIs. James went 2-for-3 with a run.
In the second game, Salem got out on top with two runs in its
first at bat, but Lake Erie squashed the lead with three runs
during its turn at the plate with an RBI single by Lott and a
double by James to send in two more. Salem knotted the score at
three with a lone run in the fourth, which is where things stayed
until a seven-run rally by the Storm in the sixth. Lake Erie scored
its runs on just two hits as two players were hit by pitches and
four others walked.
The green and white totaled six hits with James going 2-for-2
with one run and four RBIs. Sophomore Nick Lovick
(Mentor,Ohio/Mentor) went 1-for-1 with three RBIs.
On the hill, freshman reliever Jae Leeworthy (Newton Falls,
Ohio/Newton Falls) improved to 2-0 after two and one third innings
of work in which he struck out three and gave up no runs. His ERA
for the season is a staff low at 1.59.
Lake Erie (11-23) travels to Case Western Reserve University on
Friday at 3:30 p.m.
