TIFFIN, Ohio - With the winter weather creeping into early spring across northeast Ohio, the Lake Erie baseball team and head coach Landon Hutchinson had to get creative in order to compete in their second conference series of the year against the Findlay Oilers. The Storm took on the Oilers for 2 games on Sunday, March 27th in Cincinnati, and then turned around and completed the 4 game series in Tiffin, Ohio and March 29th. The Oilers took the first three contests, but the Storm toughed it out through those contests and were able to earn a dramatic win in the final game to avoid the sweep. The game went as follows:

Findlay 13, Lake Erie 2

In the first of the 2 contests played at the University of Cincinnati, the Storm faced some initial difficulties from the plate, and the cold temperatures caused some tough field conditions. The Oilers were able to take advantage and quickly took control of the game. The Storm did make a comeback bid in the 8th behind a Cody Balliet double and a Nick Taylor single. However, they failed to lengthen the run enough to get back in the game, and the Oilers took the first contest of the series 13-2. Additionally, Israel Espinosa had an impressive triple for the Storm in the bottom of the 2nd inning.

Findlay 10, Lake Erie 3

In the second Sunday contest in Cincinnati, it was more of the same for the Storm unfortunately. The Oilers took control of the game early, and the Storm struggled to find enough production offensively to keep up with Findlay. A late Storm comeback surge was fueled by Mason Eicher's hitting was still not enough to overcome the Oiler lead, and Findlay would take game 2 by a score of 10-3.

Findlay  18, Lake Erie 0

After a rough 24 hour hiatus, the series got back underway as both teams headed to Tiffin, Ohio to play on the campus of Heidelberg University. This would be a tough game for the Storm as a leadoff home run for the Oilers in the first inning set the mood for the game. Lake Erie mustered just 4 hits in the contest, and Findlay took the third contest 18-0.

Lake Erie 7, Findlay 6

In the final contest, the Storm clearly put everything they had left into making sure that they stuck in this game. Led by an impressive day on the mound for starting pitcher Zach Saffell, the Storm were able to stay neck and neck with the Oilers the whole game. After both teams traded runs in the first, the third inning saw the Storm respond to two Oiler runs with 4 of their own fueled by doubles from Treyvon Fletcher and Israel Espinosa. The Oilers clawed back even in the next couple innings, but a Cody Balliet home run would give the Storm the momentum they needed to take control of the game. Lake Erie would then take the lead in the 7th inning, and that set the stage for a dramatic top of the 9th inning. The Storm set Nick Taylor from the first base spot to the mound as they needed just three more outs to avoid the series sweep. He put in a dramatic performance on the bump to protect the Storm's narrow 1 run lead, earn himself the save, and earn his teammates their first conference win of the season.

Despite the busy extended weekend, the Lake Erie baseball program is scheduled to get right back into conference play as they will head down to Ashland on Saturday, April 2nd and Sunday, April 3rd for a weekend series with the Eagles. First pitch on Saturday is scheduled for Noon.