(HICKORY, N.C.) – In its second trip to the Tar Heel State, Lake Erie was swept in a twin bill against Lenoir-Rhyne by scores of 6-5 and 7-1 Monday evening. The Storm (3-5-1) will have an opportunity to take one back against the Bears (14-10) as they conclude the three-game series tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m.

The Green and White gave the Hickory hosts all they could handle in the opener and took a 3-0 lead to start the contest. Bears miscues helped the Storm strike first in the top of the second as Trace Peterson (Jr., Brunswick, Ohio / Medina) scored thanks to an error on Lenoir-Rhyne's pitcher with the bases loaded. Sam Browning (Sr., Cincinnati, Ohio / Archbishop McNicholas) scored on the next play, but the double play that coincided with it prevented Lake Erie from doing further damage.

Nathan Birtley (Jr., Mentor, Ohio / Mentor) opened the third with a single and eventually found himself in scoring position at third base thanks to another error by the pitcher. Reed Collins (Jr., Farmington, Minn. / Farmington) grounded out on the next play, but Birtley was able to score to make the game 3-0 in favor of the visitors.

The Bears started to roar back in the bottom of the frame and tied the game up before they took a 5-3 lead with solo runs in the fourth and fifth. Not going away easily, Lake Erie bounced right back with a pair in the sixth thanks to timely hitting by Nathan Erzen (Sr., Brookpark, Ohio / Berea-Midpark) and Brady Minetti (Sr., McKees Rocks, Pa. / Montour).

Erzen doubled down the right field line to bring Drew Donaldson (Fr., Galloway, Ohio / Hilliard Bradley) around after he reached safely thanks to a third error by the Bears. In a pinch hitting role, Minetti singled through the left side of the infield to bring in Erzen.

With the score tied at 5-5, the Bears used small ball to bring in what proved to be the game-winning run in the sixth. Chipper McGinnis opened with a single through the middle, advanced on a sacrifice bunt, and eventually scored on a single to left by Bryce Stober.

Brian D'Andrea took the loss in relief after he came on in the sixth for his first decision of the season. Starter Cade Wendel went five innings and struck out five in the process.

In the nightcap, Lenoir-Rhyne wasted little time jumping to an early lead after putting up a seven-spot in the second. Lake Erie eventually got on the board in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Collin Minor (Sr., Medina, Ohio / Medina) that plated Collins, but it was too little, too late for the Storm in the designated seven-inning game.

Mitch Sorensen (R-Jr., Westlake, Ohio / Avon Lake) took the defeat to fall to 1-1.