PAINESVILLE, Ohio -- The Lake
Erie softball team's fast start to Tuesday's (April 6)
doubleheader at Slippery Rock was not enough to pick up a victory
as the Storm fell, 10-8 and 8-0, to the Rock.
The Storm (6-24) got a huge boost from
Danielle Finkler (Chardon, Ohio/Berkshire) in the
first inning of the opener. The Storm loaded the bases with one out
for the junior right fielder, who slugged a grand slam to right
center giving Lake Erie a 4-0 lead.
After the Rock (18-13) bounced back with a pair
in the bottom of the first off Lake Erie starter Pam
Bykowski (Perry, Ohio/Perry/Armstrong Atlantic), the Storm
regained its four-run lead in the second inning on a two-run single
by freshman left fielder Erica Tanski (Painesville,
Ohio/Riverside).
SRU's Jessica Kortz made it 6-4 in the bottom of
the second with a two-run single and the Rock tacked on another run
in the third to make it 6-5.
Kortz also supplied two-run homers in the fourth
and sixth innings to finish with six RBI in the first
game.
Sophomore first baseman Lindsey Pennell
(Columbus, Ohio/Westland) drove in a run with an RBI
single in the sixth inning that trimmed the Rock's lead to
tie the game at 7-7, but Kortz's homer in the sixth to go
with a Shardea Croes RBI rip gave Slippery Rock a 10-7 lead heading
into the seventh.
Sophomore center fielder Haley Rathge
(Edon, Ohio/Napoleon) had a two-out run-scoring single in
the last inning, but the Storm's rally was stopped Shaylee
Ianno, who pitched the last five innings for SRU.
Lauren Malicki
(Independence, Ohio/Independence) took the loss for the Storm, working the last
three innings of the game. Slippery Rock starter Shauna Walker
improved to 9-2 with the win.
Pennell finished 3-for-4 with two runs, while Finkler had two
hits, two runs and four RBI. Megan Foley (Brunswick,
Ohio/Brunswick) had two hits out of the leadoff spot
for the Storm.
The Storm was only able to manage one hit in the
second game – a Brittany Sostre (Parma, Ohio/Valley
Forge) single to center in the fourth inning – off
Slippery Rock pitcher Lindsey Grace.
The Storm drew three walks off Grace, but could
not scratch out a run while Slippery Rock's offense scored
runs in four of the five innings to get the 8-0 win.
Starter Sam Ronde (Reynoldsburg,
Ohio/Reynoldsburg) took the loss for the Storm, working
three innings.
The Storm will look to bounce back on Wednesday
(April 7) afternoon at Slattery Field where Lake Erie will host
future GLIAC foe Tiffin at 3 p.m.
