MENTOR, Ohio - After their successful and challenging road trip down in Florida, the Lake Erie softball program finally got a chance to hit the field at home with a Thursday afternoon doubleheader against the Clarion Golden Eagles. While the contests were held at Mentor High School instead of the traditional softball home field at Diamond 9 due to field conditions, the Storm still felt right at home as they rode some strong pitching to a sweep over the Golden Eagles. The games went as follows. 

Lake Erie 5, Clarion 0

In the first contest, the Storm got off to their trademark with 2 runs in the first behind strong play at the plate from Payton Brownlee and Arianna Tammaro. They would then add 3 more runs in the 4th inning as Kiya Smith and CJ Garcia would add to the Storm's impressive 8 hits in this contest. In the circle, Carly Rowland would log a dominant complete game shutout in which she allowed just 2 hits and recorded 8 strikeouts.

Lake Erie 3, Clarion 2

In the second contest, Lake Erie would again get off to a great start with 3 runs from 4 hits in the first inning, including a Ava Scott single that brought in 2 RBIs on the play. After Clarion would get back in the game with runs in the 5th and 6th innings, pitcher Grace Hammer would come in clutch with 3 of her 11 strikeouts on the day in the final inning to maintain the complete game win for her and the Storm. 

After this impressive home debut, head coach McKenna Garlock's squad will get right back at it on Friday, March 18th when they head up I-90 to Erie, Pennsylvania to face off with the Gannon Golden Knights for a Friday afternoon doubleheader. The first contest will begin at 3 pm.