ASHLAND, Ohio -- The Lake Erie softball team began Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) play today on the road against the Ashland Eagles. The Storm showed some fight but dropped both games by mercy rule to begin G-MAC play, 0-2.

GAME 1

LAKE ERIE - 2
ASHLAND - 10
5 Innings

The Eagles got on the board first, putting up four runs in the bottom of the first inning by stringing together five hits and taking advantage of one Storm error. In the top half of the second, the Storm threatened when CJ Garcia led off the inning with a single and advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Jasmine Gonzales. After a strikeout next at-bat, Garcia got fooled by a ball in the dirt and took off for third. The Eagles catcher was able to recover quickly, and the inning ended with no runs put on the board.

Ashland would extend their lead to 7-0 in the bottom half, putting three more on the board and then adding two more in the third inning, but Lake Erie did not let that get them down, and they responded accordingly in the top of the fourth.

Peyton Powers kicked off the inning with a single to center field and was moved over on a single by Emma Spahr. The Storm finally got their first run on the board with an RBI single to right center field by Garcia and added one more after Gonzales was hit by a pitch, and the ball jetted out into foul territory, scoring Spahr and advancing Garcia to second. The next two batters were retired by the Eagles and that would prove to be the final runs scored by Lake Erie in the game.

Ashland scored one final time in the bottom of the fifth, which triggered the mercy rule and ended the game with a 10-2 loss for the Storm.

WP: C. Shaffer (3-0)
LP: Addison Nugent (0-8)


GAME 2

LAKE ERIE - 1
ASHLAND - 9
5 Innings

Game two of the Storm's G-MAC opening double header began a lot better than the first one.

Lily Turkowski got the start in the circle and shutdown the Ashland batters in back-to-back innings, surrendering no hits and striking out one. 

In the top of the third, Lake Erie broke the scoreless tie when Peyton Powers drove in Brynn Gillen with a ground-rule double. In the inning, the Storm would leave two stranded but the offensive surge inspired hope into the visiting dugout.

Unfortunately, the Eagles responded in the bottom half of the inning with three runs to take the lead. Turkowski bounced back in the next two innings though, allowing just one more run.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Eagles strung together five runs and for the second time that day, walked-off the Storm with a mercy rule.

Powers led the Storm effort with a 2-for-3 day and CJ Garcia accounted for the other lone hit.

WP: D. Lis (5-2)
LP: Lily Turkowski (0-4)


Looking Ahead
The Storm will continue G-MAC play on Friday, March 18th against Northwood for their home opener. The double header is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.