PAINESVILLE, Ohio — The Lake Erie softball team hosted the Walsh University Cavaliers today for another G-MAC doubleheader. The Storm kept the Cavaliers at bay for a while in game one but finished in walk-off fashion in game two, earning a series split at home.

GAME 1
WALSH - 8
LEC - 1

Walsh jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first after a single, walk and sacrifice fly.

In the bottom half, Peyton Powers advanced into scoring position but would not cross. The offense threatened again in the second with three straight singles but were unable to get a run in. 

The Cavaliers added one more in the third but the Storm responded quickly.

In the bottom half of the inning, Megan Miller singled down the left field line and stole second during Sydney Taylor's at bat. Lily Turkowski then roped a single into centerfield and Miller's speed proved useful as she scored from second to get the Storm on the board.

The Cavaliers extended their lead in the fifth to 5-1 and later 8-1 in the seventh.

While the Storm continued to get runners on base, they were unable to push them home and the game ended with a final score of 8-1.

Miller and Lillian Campbell each went 2-for-3 in the game with one of Campbell's hits coming as a double. Powers, Turkowski, Vanessa White, Samantha Lippiatt and Rachel Fender counted for the Storm's remaining five hits.
 

GAME 2
WALSH - 4
LEC - 5
9 innings

It was a pitchers dual to begin game two. Addison Nugent locked down the Cavaliers through the first five innings and got some run support in the bottom of the fourth.

Lillian Campbell kicked off the bottom half of the inning with a single up the middle and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Samantha Lippiatt. Allie Jackson then singled to left center to push Campbell over to third and the bases would load after Peyton Powers drew a walk to set the Storm up for a prime opportunity to break the tie. With some help by the Cavaliers defense, Megan Miller reached first and both Jackson and Campbell scored, giving Lake Erie a 2-0 lead.

In the 6th, Walsh tied the game up and took a 4-2 lead in the top of the seventh.

Down to their final three outs, the Storm had some magic left in them. They got a base runner when Megan Miller reached safely on a throwing error by the Cavaliers. Sydney Taylor advanced her with a single to left center and moved to second on the throw but Miller was thrown out at third on the play. She would come around to score on a single up the middle by Lily Turkowski who advanced to second on the throw, putting the Storm within striking distance. 

Turkowski moved over to third on a ground out by the pinch hitter, Madi Eckert and the Storm tied up the game after Campbell smoked a single over the center fielder's head.

Campbell advanced to second on a wild pitch and Rachel Fender worked a walk to put two runners on as the Cavaliers were forced to change their pitcher with Summer Bliss stepping up to the plate who managed to get a good swing in but flew out to the left fielder to end the inning.

Nugent came into the 8th and shut down Walsh, handing off the reigns to her offense.

The Storm threatened to score in the bottom half after Kaitlyn Hendrian led off the inning with a pinch hit single, but the hitting would end and the game would go into the ninth. 

Nugent continued to cruise with assistance from Jackson who made a spectacular catch in right field for the first out. After securing the final two outs, the offense would get back to work and make it a memorable ending.

Taylor led off the bottom of the 9th with a single to right and her heads up base running moved her to second after a wild pitch. Turkowski earned a walk and it was Samantha Lippiatt who ended the game with a shot to the outfield, scoring Taylor who turned on the jets and scored from second, giving Lake Erie an exciting 5-4 win.

Campbell led the offense with a 3-for-5 day, scoring a run and driving in another. Powers and Taylor each had two hits and Turkowski, Vanessa White, Lippiatt, Jackson, and Hendrian accounted for the remaining hits.

Nugent finished with line of 9 IP, 10 H, 4 ER, and 2 K's, throwing 147 pitches in the process to earn her first win of the season.

Looking Ahead
The Storm wil be right back at it again tomorrow on the road to face the Cedarville Yellow Jackets in Cedarville with game one starting at 12 p.m.