ST. CHARLES, MO. - The Lake Erie College Storm baseball season got underway with a double-header against the Lindenwood University Lions (4-6) Thursday (Feb. 14) afternoon. 

Sam Browning was hit by a pitch in the top of the second, and was scored in by sophomore Nathan Birtley on a line drive single to center for the first run of the 2019 season, however the Lions returned with two runs in the bottom of the second for the lead, 2-1. The Storm answered with two runs of their own in the top of the third, 3-2. The first was an RBI single by Nigel Williams, and the second by Collin Minor.

The Lions scored one in the bottom of the fifth on a sac-fly to right field, which tied the game up at 3. In the bottom of the sixth, Lindenwood led off with a walk, earned a pair of stolen bases, and drew another walk which allowed for an RBI single up the middle. The Lions scored again in the bottom of the eighth to extend the lead to 5-2.

The Storm came back with a final run in the top of the ninth when Sam Browning led off the inning with a single to left, before Caleb Waller tripled to center which drove Browning in. However, the Storm dropped game one with a final score of 5-4.

Senior David Lemasters got the start on the bump for the Storm in game one, throwing 4.2 innings and recording three strike-outs, while giving up three runs, only one of which was earned, on six hits and four walks. Evan Layne came in to relieve him and is given the loss for the Storm although he showed strong, recording seven strike-outs in three innings work, and giving up two earned runs on five hits and three walks.

The Storm dropped the second game with a final score of 22-3.

Offensively, Sam Browning had a good day at the dish, with two hits and scoring one run. Corbin Paxton and Forrest Longeway both hit a double, and Nigel Williams went two for four at the plate in the first game, and drove in two runs between both games.

The Storm heads to North Carolina for baseball on Friday, Feb. 22 for neutral site games against Millersville and Lock Haven. For more information regarding Lake Erie College Baseball, head to lakeeriestorm.com.

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