INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana -- The Lake Erie Baseball team returned to the diamond in Indiana after a weekend off to face the #5 UIndy Greyhounds. #5 UIndy would take advantage of Lake Erie pitching and defense errors along with cold hitting for a series sweep with scores of 6-0, 11-9, and 12-4. 
 
Lake Erie moves to 2-4 and #5 UIndy begins their season 3-0.
 
Game Recaps
 
Game 1:
#5 UIndy- 6
Lake Erie- 0
 
Game one began with a pitcher's duel. In the third inning, each team threatened with runners on second and third with less than two outs, but neither team would put runs across. In the bottom of the seventh, the Greyhounds would break the game open putting up 5 runs for a 5-0 lead with a leadoff home run, an RBI triple, an RBI double, along with scoring on a wild pitch. A sacrifice fly would add another run for the Greyhounds in the bottom of the eighth for a 6-0 lead. The Storm would threaten in the ninth with runners on first and third, but a game-ending double play would seal the Greyhounds victory.
 
W: Austin Bestul (1-0) - 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 Ks
L: Gage Miller (0-1) - 1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 2 BBs, 0 Ks
 
Key Team Stats:
 
Batting-
Runners Left on Base: Storm- 8, Greyhounds- 5
Walks: Storm- 5, Greyhounds- 6
Strikeouts: Storm- 13, Greyhounds- 11
Stolen Bases: Storm- 3, Greyhounds- 1
 
Pitching-
Walks: Storm- 6, Greyhounds- 5
Strikeouts: Storm- 11, Greyhounds- 13
Hit by Pitches: Storm- 0, Greyhounds- 2
 
Fielding-
Errors: Storm- 2, Greyhounds- 0
 
Game 1 Top Storm Performers: 
 
Sr. Robert Helt: 4.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BBs, 8 Ks
Sr. Garrett Esposito: 1-2, 2B, 2 BBs
Soph. Jaxson Christ: 1-3, 2B, BB, K 
 
Game 2:
UIndy- 11
Lake Erie- 9
 
In the bottom of the first, the Greyhounds would race out to a 4-0 lead taking advantage of two Storm errors, along with a two-run home run. UIndy would tack on one more in the bottom of the second for a 5-0 lead following two more Lake Erie errors. The Greyhounds continued to pile on in the bottom of the third, adding three more runs for an 8-0 lead. The Storm would show life in the top of the fourth, putting up a five spot to cut the lead to 8-5 scoring on a Greyhounds error, and back-to-back two out RBI doubles from Travis Yankovich and Israel Espinosa. A leadoff home run in the bottom of the fifth would grow the lead to 9-5 for UIndy. Lake Erie would keep clawing their way back, adding a run in the top of the sixth off an RBI single from Zach Hoskins to bring the score to 9-6. The Greyhounds would add two more in the bottom half for an 11-6 lead. The Storm would continue to fight until the last out, adding three more runs, two coming off a Greyhounds error, and an RBI single from Zach Hoskins, but the Greyhounds would hold on for the 11-9 victory.
 
W: Dawson Gabe (1-0) - 5.1 IP, 4 H, 6 R (5 ER), BB, 10 Ks
L: Alex Caudill (0-1) - 3.0 IP, 4 H, 8 R (5 ER), 4 BBs, 2 Ks
 
Key Team Stats:
 
Batting-
Runners Left on Base: Storm- 4, Greyhounds- 4
Walks: Storm- 2, Greyhounds- 7
Strikeouts: Storm- 12, Greyhounds- 7
Stolen Bases: Storm- 1, Greyhounds- 4
 
Pitching-
Walks: Storm- 7, Greyhounds- 2
Strikeouts: Storm- 7, Greyhounds- 12
Hit by Pitches: Storm- 1, Greyhounds- 1
 
Fielding-
Errors: Storm- 4, Greyhounds- 4
 
Game 2 Top Storm Performers:
 
Sr. Israel Espinosa: 2-3, 2B, 2 RBIs
Jr. Zach Hoskins: 2-2, 2 RBIs
Soph. Travis Yankovich: 1-4, 2B, 2 RBIs, R, K
 
Game 3:
UIndy- 12
Lake Erie- 6
 
Lake Erie would see their first lead of the series with a two-run first inning, with an RBI single from Mitchel Szymczak and Jaxson Christ scoring on a wild pitch. The Greyhounds would quickly erase the Storm lead, putting up eight in the bottom half of the inning for an 8-2 lead, highlighted by a three-run home run and a grand slam. The Storm would threaten in the top of the second loading the bases but would muster no runs. UIndy would add another run in the bottom of the third inning for a 9-2 lead. Two more runs would be added by the Greyhounds following a sacrifice fly and RBI single for an 11-2 lead. A one-out solo home run for UIndy bringing the lead to 12-2. Lake Erie would continue show life late in games, scoring two runs in the closing frame, with an RBI single from Israel Espinosa and a sacrifice fly from Alex Jones, but the Greyhounds would close out the game 12-4 for the sweep.
 
W: Nic Besecker (1-0) - 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, BB, 5 Ks
L: Dominic Poltrone (0-1) - 0.2 IP, 2 H, 8 ER, 6 BBs, 2 Ks
 
Key Team Stats:
 
Batting-
Runners Left on Base: Storm- 9, Greyhounds- 3
Walks: Storm- 3, Greyhounds- 9
Strikeouts: Storm- 6, Greyhounds- 7
Stolen Bases: Storm- 4, Greyhounds- 8
 
Pitching-
Walks: Storm- 9, Greyhounds- 3
Strikeouts: Storm- 7, Greyhounds- 6
Hit by Pitches: Storm- 1, Greyhounds- 4
 
Fielding-
Errors: Storm- 2, Greyhounds- 1
 
Game 3 Top Storm Performers:
 
R-Soph. Mitchel Szymczak: 3-4, RBI, SB
R-Sr. Sebastian Silva: 2-2, 2B, R, HBP
Sr. Israel Espinosa: 1-3, RBI, R
 
Series Evaluation
 
Free Bases: Throughout the series, walks became a major issue for the Storm pitching staff, leading to more opportunities for the Greyhounds. The Storm had 22 BBs in the series and the Greyhounds would take advantage on numerous occasions. As the Storm begin playing more games, expect walks to come down giving opponents less opportunities. 
 
Errors: Lake Erie continued their early season struggles with defense, picking up 8 more errors, 15 total in the first two series. Numerous times in the series when the Storm would have an error, UIndy would put runs on the board. If the Storm continues their struggles on defense, opponents will take advantage. 
 
Cold at the Plate: With the cold temperatures early in the season comes cold hitters. Through the first six games, the Storm are hitting under .200. With the aggressive approach at the plate, there were 31 Ks, 9 of which were looking during the series. As the team continues to play, look for more balls being put in play and pressure being put on the opponent's defense.
 
Perfection on the Base Paths: Lake Erie continued their success on the base paths to begin the season, swiping a perfect 8/8 bases. When the Storm gets runners on base, pressure will be put on the pitcher and catcher. With the season progressing forward, Lake Erie will look to continue causing havoc on the base paths with the speed in the lineup. 
 
Series History
 
Lake Erie is now 4-12 all-time against UIndy, having lost four-straight games. 
 
Looking Ahead
 
Lake Erie will head to Kentucky to face Thomas More University in a non-conference matchup for a three-game series beginning on Saturday, February 22nd. Lake Erie and Thomas More split their four-game series last season with Lake Erie winning games one and two by scores of 9-4 and 4-3, and Thomas More took games three and four 10-8 and 10-0.
 
In 2024, Thomas More completed their first year in Division II with a 14-35 overall record, while going 7-25 in G-MAC play. In the 2025 G-MAC preseason poll, they were voted to finish fifth in the south division. They began their season 2-0 against West Virginia Wesleyan, who is from the Mountain East Conference.