PAINESVILLE, Ohio -- The Lake Erie softball team hosted the Northwood University Timberwolves today for their home opener at Diamond 9 at Kiwanis Recreation Park. The Storm fought hard in game two but dropped both contests to fall to 0-4 in G-MAC play.


GAME 1

NORTHWOOD - 12
LAKE ERIE - 1


The Storm offense threatened early in the first inning when they managed to load the bases thanks to two batters hit by a pitch and an error by the Northwood left fielder. Unfortunately they were unable to capitalize and they walked away with no runs on the board.

The Timberwolves snapped right back into a groove in their next offensive series, putting up six runs in the inning and kept the ball rolling in the third with a five-run inning and one more run in the fourth.

Lake Erie was able to grab one run in the bottom of the fifth but they suffered a 12-1 loss in the end.

Sydney Taylor, CJ Garcia, Emma Spahr, and Brynn Gillen each had a hit for the Storm and Addison Nugent had a great outing in the circle in relief with two scoreless innings, allowing no hits and striking out three batters.


GAME 2

NORTHWOOD - 7
LAKE ERIE - 3

Northwood squeaked out a run in the first inning to start the scoring in game two and tehy added to their lead in the fourth and fifth to hold a 4-0 advantage. However, the Storm did not stay quiet for long.

CJ Garcia led off the bottom of the fifth with double to left field and Lily Turkowski moved her over with a single to second. After Brynn Gillen pinch ran for Turkowski, she stole second to set up Sydney Taylor with two runners in scoring position. Taylor showed discipline at the plate and drew a walk to load the bases. After back-to-back fielders choices where the runner at third was thrown out, Taylor crossed home on a wild pitch, getting the Storm on the board.

Lake Erie got within striking distance right shortly after when Lillian Campbell drove in two with a single to right field.

Unfortunately, the Timberwolves would get those three runs back in the top half of the sixth and they would hold onto that lead to take home a 7-3 victory.

The Storm tallied twelve hits in the contest with Garcia, Turkowski, Campbell, and Madi Eckert each collecting two.


Looking Ahead

The Storm will be back in action on Wednesday, March 26th at home against the D'Youville Saints for a non-conference doubleheader.