ASHLAND, Ohio - As the race to earn a spot in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Softball Championships gets tighter and tighter, the Lake Erie softball team had a real chance to make a push for a coveted playoff spot when they headed down to Ashland for a doubleheader with the Eagles. Unfortunately, the Storm had all they could handle with the Eagles, and would fall in both contests. The games played out as follows:

Ashland 4, Lake Erie 2

In Game 1, Lake Erie jumped out to an early lead when Chloe Allen made it around home after her leadoff single. Ashland would answer right back with a run in the 3rd, and the Storm would surge back as Rachel Varga earned her second RBI of the day when her ground out drove in Chloe Allen again. Unfortunately, a late Eagles rally in the 6th gave Game 1 to the Eagles. Grace Hammer got the start for the Storm in the circle, and would pitch well as she logged 5 strikeouts in 6 innings of work.

Ashland 4, Lake Erie 3

In Game 2, it was a very similar story. The Storm took an initial lead in the 2nd with a Bridget Mullholand double that brought in Jordyn Hawkins. Ashland tied the game up again in the 5th, and the game would stay tied going into extra innings. This would hold until the 10th when a Chloe Allen sacrifice fly drove in Emma Spahr. Just as the game looked over, Ashland then tied in back up in the bottom of the 10th. Finally, the Storm took one last 3-2 lead with an Emma Spahr sacrifice fly that drove in Peyton Brownlee in the top of the 12th. However, it was the Eagles who would emerge victorious as they hit a triple bottom of the 12th to bring in the final 2 runs of the game. Bridget Mullholand, Carly Rowland, and Emma Spahr would all see time in the pitcher's circle for the Storm, and they logged 5 combined strikeouts in the marathon 12 inning contest.  

Despite the disappointing day in Ashland, the Storm have a great opportunity to get back on track as they will have off with the Findlay Oilers for their final home doubleheader on April 23rd. The first game will begin at 1 pm, and Lake Erie softball will be celebrating Senior Day festivities.