GREENSBORO, N.C. – Host Greensboro College broke open a one-run game with a three-run fifth and then added three more over the next two innings en route to a 7-4 victory over the Lake Erie College baseball team Wednesday (March 6).

The Pride (9-8) scored one a Storm error in the bottom of the first and held that 1-0 advantage going into the fifth inning in an early duel between starters Kristofer Peeden and junior Brad Raley (Hinckley, Ohio/Highland). 

The two hurlers combined to allow just seven hits through the first 4 ½ innings.  But the Pride got to Raley and the Storm (0-7) defense in the fifth. A single, hit-by-pitch and an RBI double by James Feldmann gave Greensboro a 2-0 lead. Two batters later, Matthew Parker scored after an error by sophomore SS Josh Hudeck (Macedonia, Ohio/Trinity/Ashland) attempting to turn a double-play.

Lake Erie got on the scoreboard and closed within a run in the top of the sixth. Senior Patrick Kilway (Tallmadge, Ohio/Tallmadge) and sophomore Dylan Yankle (Dublin, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty) each drove in a run to make it 3-2 and chase Peeden from the game.

Kyle Schmidt and Matt Irwin plated runs in the sixth off freshman reliever Connor Fuller (Euclid, Ohio/Euclid) and Seth Casion doubled in a run in the seventh to make it a 7-2 game.

The Storm added two unearned runs in the eighth before Brandon Matthews retired the side in order in the ninth to earn the save.

Raley (0-1) allowed four runs on six hits in five innings, walking three and striking out five. Peeden (4-0) surrendered just two runs in five-plus innings on six hits. He walked three and struck out two.

Kilway and freshman Matthew Avromov (Shelby Township, Mich./Notre Dame Prep) had two hits each for the Storm with Kilway scoring twice on the day.  Freshman Zach DeCamp (Gahanna, Ohio/St. Francis DeSales) singled and scored to extend his season-opening hit streak to seven straight games.

Four Pride batters had two hits apiece.

The Storm wraps up its spring break trip on Thursday, March 7, with a doubleheader at Pfeiffer University starting at noon.

-LEC-