CANTON, Ohio -- The Lake Erie baseball team continued the road swing with a non-conference matchup against the Malone Pioneers. The Storm would jump out to an early 2-0, but the Pioneers would score four unanswered runs for a 4-2 midweek victory.

Team Records

Lake Erie: 13-10 
Malone: 10-13 

Game Recap

Malone- 4
Lake Erie- 2
 
Lake Erie would jump out to an early 1-0 lead in the first with Mitchel Szymczak reaching on an error and Micah Geise scoring. Reigning G-MAC player of the week Garrett Esposito would give the Storm a 2-0 lead with an RBI double in the third. Malone would answer back in the bottom half, cutting the score at 2-2. The Pioneers would threaten in the seventh, loading the bases, but would not plate any runs. Lake Erie would threaten in the eighth, getting a runner to third, but would be left stranded. Malone would hit a two-run home run in the bottom half, putting them ahead 4-2. The Pioneers would close out the game in the ninth for a 4-2 victory. 
 
W: Kai Duda (1-0) - 1.0 IP, H, 0 ER, 0 BBs, 0 Ks
L: Cole Schwochow (0-1) - 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 0 BBs, 0 Ks
S: Cooper Davies (4) – 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BBs, K
 
Key Team Stats:
 
Batting-
Runners Left on Base: Storm- 9, Pioneers- 7
Walks: Storm- 7, Pioneers- 4
Strikeouts: Storm- 7, Pioneers- 6
Stolen Bases: Storm- 3, Pioneers- 0
 
Pitching-
Walks: Storm- 4, Pioneers- 7
Strikeouts: Storm- 6, Pioneers- 7
Hit by Pitches: Storm- 1, Pioneers- 0
 
Fielding-
Errors: Storm- 0, Pioneers- 2
 
Top Storm Performers:
 
R-Fr. Hunter Bays: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BBs, 2 Ks
Sr. Garrett Esposito: 1-3, 2B, RBI, BB, K
R-Soph. Mitchel Szymczak: 1-3, BB 

The Matchup
 
Lake Erie's midweek loss brings the all-time record to 10-28 all-time against Malone. Lake Erie has now lost six straight games against Malone. Lake Erie's last victory against Malone came at home in 2022. 
 
Looking Ahead
 
Lake Erie will host their first home G-MAC series of the season, facing off against Ohio Dominican University beginning on Saturday, March 29th. 
 
Ohio Dominican is currently 8-16 overall and 2-6 in the G-MAC. Ohio Dominican opened G-MAC play dropping their first two series at Tiffin and at home against Hillsdale. In the 2025 G-MAC preseason poll, the Panthers were voted to finish second in the south division. 
 
Ohio Dominican is currently 10th in the G-MAC for batting average (.260), last in ERA (9.25), and 11th in fielding percentage (.952 with 37 errors).