EASTLAKE, Ohio (April 5, 2009) - Lake Erie College closed out a
four-game weekend series with Mercyhurst College this afternoon at
Classic Park, losing 18-0 and 10-5. In similar fashion to
yesterday, the Storm was held scoreless in game one, before waking
up its bats in order to post a closer result in game two.
Lake Erie had one hit in the first game courtesy of designated
hitter Matt Lott (Newark, Ohio/Newark Catholic) who singled up the
middle to start off the fifth inning. The Lakers, however totaled
19 hits in the contest.
Hitting went much differently in the second game as both Lake
Erie and Mercyhurst recorded eight hits each. The Storm got its
first run in the first inning on an RBI single by senior Ben Reed
(Middlefield, Ohio/Cardinal) to make the score 2-1. Mercyhurst then
scored eight runs in the second to take a 10-1 lead.
It wasn't until the sixth inning that Lake Erie cut the deficit
to five after a three-hit, four-run showing. Reed started the rally
with a walk, then an infield single by freshman Kyle Kemp
(Spotsylvania, Pa./James Monroe) was followed
by sophomore Brandon James (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor) with a
one-out single to left field to load the bases. A walk by senior
Ben Willis (Akron, Ohio/Coventry) scored a run. Then a single by
freshman Matt Vanni (Willowick, Ohio/Benedictine) scored another.
Senior John Shaposka (Mentor, Ohio/Cornerstone Christian) walked
for another run to keep the bases loaded before another walk
resulted in the Storm's final run of the inning.
Kemp was the only Storm player with multiple hits, going 2-for-4
with one run. The Storm's bullpen was effective in the
later innings with junior Vince Hug (Eastlake, Ohio/North),
freshman Kyle Koberna (North Ridgeville, Ohio/Elyria Catholic) and
freshman Alex Kanareff (Westlake, Ohio/Westlake) going five and two
thirds innings without giving up a single run and only allowing the
opponents two hits.
Lake Erie (5-21) heads to Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
on Tuesday for a 1 p.m. double header. The teams played in Storm
territory on March 31 with Mansfield winning, 19-4 and 4-3.
