SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- The Lake Erie softball team kicked off their 2026 season at the UIS Springfield Clinic Classic, hosted by the University of Illinois-Springfield (UIS). They competed against UIS and #16 UIndy and despite a couple of decent showings, the Storm would drop all four games.

GAME 1
LEC - 1
UIS - 13
5 innings

The game got off to a fast start for the Prairie Stars, taking a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first with a collection of singles, stolen bases and two walks. The Storm threatened in the top of the second, getting their first two runners on with a hit by pitch and a walk. Vanessa White pushed the runners over with a single to center field but the inning would end with a double play and a fly out, stopping the Lake Erie momentum.

UIS scored again in the bottom of the inning, erupted for a six-run third inning, and scored once more in the fourth, taking a 13-0 lead.

In the top of the fifth, Allie Jackson earned her first collegiate hit on a single to right field and stole second during Peyton Powers at bat. Powers earned a walk and both runners later advanced on a wild pitch. With two outs still, Lily Turkowski walked on a wild pitch, bringing Jackson home and advancing Powers to third. Unfortunately, the game would end during the next at bat, handing the Storm a 13-1 loss in five innings


GAME 2
LEC - 0
UIS - 6

Lake Erie looked to conclude their day against the Prairie Stars by building off the positives and limiting mistakes. Despite allowing three walks and a double in the bottom of the first, starting pitcher Sydney Murray limited the damage and only allowed one UIS run to score.

The Storm went scoreless in their first three innings before UIS scored four runs in the bottom of the third to take a 5-0 lead.

Addison Nugent came in for relief duty in the middle of the third and would throw four innings, giving up just four hits and one run in her outing.

The offense continued to struggle and after tacking on one more run in the bottom of the sixth, UIS wrapped up the game with a 6-0 win.

Rachel Fender had a nice game at the plate, going 2-for-3 while Lily Turkowski and Allie Jackson each had a hit in the game as well.


GAME 3
LEC - 2
#16 UINDY - 3

The final day of the UIS Springfield Clinic Classic featured a doubleheader against the Storm's first ranked opponent of the season in familiar foe, #16 UIndy.

The Storm showed they came to play in the bottom of the second. With runners on first and second and two outs, UIndy's Sydney Oliver singled to left field advancing the runners. As Ella Palm rounded third, Storm left fielder Sydney Taylor threw her out at home, stopping the Greyhound momentum and ending the inning in exciting fashion.

The Greyhounds, however got on the board with a two-run third inning but the Storm were quick to respond. 

Lily Turkowski kicked off the fourth with a double to right field and advanced to third on a sacrifice by Kaitlyn Hendrian and later crossed on a ground out by Taylor.

UIndy took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth but Lake Erie once again responded with a run of their own. 

Megan Miller got the sixth inning started with a single to left, stole second during Turkowski's at bat and advanced to third on a ground out by Hendrian. Taylor earned her second RBI of the game with a single to right, bringing the deficit to just 3-2 which would ultimately stay as the final. 


GAME 4
#16 UINDY - 12
LEC - 4

After playing closely with nationally-ranked UIndy, the Storm looked to keep that play going in game two of their doubleheader against the Greyhounds.

UIndy struck first, getting a run across in the top of the first and added two more in the third. Peyton Powers got the Storm on the board in the bottom half with an RBI single to second base, scoring Madi Eckert and trimming the deficit to 3-1.

The Greyhounds offense continued to be productive, scoring once more in the fourth and twice in the fifth, extending their lead to 6-1. The Lake Erie offense woke up in the bottom of the fifth and tacked on three runs with back-to-back singles by Powers and Megan Miller, trimming the deficit back down to just two runs.

Unfortunately, the UIndy offense picked up and they scored six unanswered runs, handing the Storm a tough 12-4 loss.

Recap
Across the four games, Peyton Powers and Allie Jackson led the team with a .250 batting average each. Powers impressed with three RBIs, earning her All-Tournament honors and Sydney Taylor drove in two RBIs herself. Lily Turkowski had a .733 OPS across all four games, and led the team with two doubles.

In the circle, after a tough first game, Addison Nugent finished the tournament with a team-best 13.1 innings pitched and 5.25 ERA.

Looking Ahead
The Storm will be back in action on Sunday, February 22nd on the road for a doubleheader against the West Liberty Hilltoppers. Game one is scheduled for 3 p.m.