PAINESVILLE, Ohio – The Lake Erie College baseball team was in action today (May 3) as they were defeated by Clarion, 12-7. 

After a scoreless first inning, the Storm grabbed a 1-0 lead when Alex Lind (Cincinnati, Ohio / Cincinnati Elder) grounded out to drive in Rees Rua (Amherst, Ohio / Amherst Steele) who walked to lead off the inning.  The Golden Eagles responded with a run in the third and fourth inning to take a 2-1 lead.  Clarion tacked on a pair of runs in the fifth to take a 4-1 advantage.  The Golden Eagles plated five in the sixth and took a 9-1 lead.  In the bottom of the sixth Wes Birchmeier (Miamisburg, Ohio / Miamisburg) led off the inning with a double down the left field line.  The double gave Birchmeier a school record for doubles in a career.  The next batter up Rua hit a two run homerun to right center field, to make the score 9-3 in favor of Clarion.  The Storm continued to battle back in the seventh when Samuel Browning (Cincinnati, Ohio / Archbishop McNicholas) singled to centerfield to drive in Drew Potesta (Canfield, Ohio / Ursuline), to cut the Golden Eagles lead to 9-4.  The next batter up Bircheier singled to center to plate Corbin Paxton (Sylvania, Ohio / Sylvania Northview).  The Storm continued to rally in the seventh when Ryan Carver (Orange Park, Fla. / Oakleaf) singled thru the left side to drive in both Browning and Birchmeier, to make the score 9-7.  The Golden Eagles added three runs in the ninth and took a 12-7 advantage.  Lake Erie was unable to rally one last time and fell, 12-7.

 The Storm was led by Birchmeier as he went 4-5 at the plate, with a double and an RBI in the game.  Rua provided a spark for the Storm offense as he reached base safely three times in the game, including a two run homerun.    

Lake Erie will return to the diamond Saturday (May 6) when they travel to take on Hillsdale College, with first pitch set for 1 p.m.

-LEC-