The Lake Erie College softball team (5-11, 0-4 GLIAC) dropped a pair of tight games against Hillsdale College (5-12, 2-2 GLIAC), on Saturday (Mar. 26), 7-3 and 4-2, at Kiwanis Recreation Park in Painesville, Ohio. 

In game one, the Storm's offensive output came one swing of the bat as senior third baseman Brittany Sostre (Parma, Ohio/Valley Forge) hit a three run home run, her seventh long ball of the season, driving in senior left fielder Danielle Finkler (Chardon, Ohio/Berkshire) and freshman first baseman Jeniffer Gratz (Richwood, Ohio/North Union). At the time, that made the score 5-3 in favor of Hillsdale in the bottom of the third inning, as freshman Sara Shields (Randolph, Ohio/Waterloo) was tagged for five runs (four earned in two-plus innings of work.  In relief, freshman Lindsay Hershberger (Marysville, Ohio/Marysville) was strong, working five innings and allowing just two runs on a fifth inning home run and four hits while striking out three. 

Lake Erie had six hits at the plate in the first game with sophomore outfielder Chelsey Bleck (Lexington, Ky./Henry Clay) accounting for a pair. 

In the second game, Lake Erie had trouble getting its bats going in the near freezing temperatures, as it did not crack the scoreboard until the seventh inning.  Trailing 4-0 as the road team, the Storm loaded the bases for Sostre with two outs, representing the tying run.  Sostre singled in Gratz and Finkler but Hillsdale got a strike out to end the Lake Erie rally and the game. 

Senior Lauren Malicki (Independence, Ohio/Independence) suffered the loss as she worked four innings and allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits.  In relief, Lyndsie Delprato (McDonald, Pa./Fort Cherry) pitched two scoreless innings, striking out a pair. 

The Storm outhit the Chargers, 7-6, as Sostre had a pair of singles and freshman second baseman Fayth Atkins (Holland, Ohio/Springfield) had the lone extra base hit with a double. 

Lake Erie is in action next on Sunday (Mar. 27) as it hosts Grand Valley State University in a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m.