CLERMONT, Flo. – The Lake Erie College softball team kicked off THE Spring Games in Florida with two matchups against the Lewis University Flyers and the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals. The Storm would drop both games on the day, falling 3-2 and 6-0.

GAME 1 - vs Lewis

Strong pitching was the theme of this matchup as both starting pitchers racked up the strikeout totals and the offenses struggled to get runners on base.

All was quiet until the top of the third when right fielder Emma Spahr rocked a double to left field, advanced to third on an error by the left fielder, and advanced home on a throwing error by the pitcher, giving the Storm an early 1-0 lead.

The next 2 ½ innings fell quiet again with both teams combining for three hits. The Flyers kicked off the bottom of the sixth with back-to-back singles and both runners would advance on a fielder's choice, putting two runners in scoring position with just one out and the Storm holding onto a slim 1-0 lead. The next Lewis batter would draw a walk to load the bases but the next batter would clear the bases with a double, putting the Flyers on top 3-1. Bridget Mullholand would come in to get the last two outs with the Storm getting one more chance in the top of the 7th to spark a comeback.

In typical Lake Erie fashion, they would refuse to go down quietly. After a leadoff out to start the inning, Adrianna Sluga would walk and Emma Morris would advance her to second after drawing a walk. Second baseman Dani Soria would come up big in the clutch and drive home Sluga, advancing Morris to third and gliding into second with still just one out. Unfortunately, the next two batters would get out, stranding the runners and giving the Storm a 3-2 loss to start THE Spring Games.

Sluga would go 2-3 on the day while starting pitcher Carly Rowland would strike out 6 in 5.1 IP and take the loss.

GAME 2 – vs Saginaw Valley State

The Storm would send up Grace Hammer to start game two of the day, this time acting as the home team against the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals.

It was another pitcher friendly matchup for the first four innings as both teams combined for just three hits. The wheels fell off in the top of the fifth as the Storm struggled with command and closing out batters, running the count full many times and failing to get batters out with two outs. By the end of the half inning, Lake Erie would be down 5-0.

Lake Erie bats would remain quiet the final three innings and the the Cardinals would walk away with a 6-0 victory.

The Storm now sit at 2-4 to start the season and will be back in action tomorrow March 6th at 10 AM and 12:30 PM to face the College of Saint Rose and Edinboro University at Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex in Leesburg, Florida.