PAINESVILLE, Ohio - The Dragons started the day with a seven-run first, but the Storm mounted a big rally and kept the momentum in game two as Tiffin (8-21, 5-10) fell to Lake Erie (14-12, 7-7) 14-7 in game one and 9-1 in game two on a warm, Sunday afternoon in Painesville, Ohio.
Cory Osborne had a pair of doubles and a single in seven at-bats with three RBI's and a run scored to lead Tiffin from the plate. Kyle Pilbeam took the loss on the mound in game one, giving up five runs on three hits to fall to 0-3.
Chris Pistorio fell to 2-2 with the loss in game two, allowing eight hits and seven runs (six earned) in three innings of work.
Jae Leeworthy led the Storm with five hits in seven at-bats, including two round-trippers, seven RBI's and three runs scored. Brayan Cacique added a pair of home runs of his own and one single with five RBI's and one run scored.
In game two, Tyler Minnich recorded his first win in three tries this year, throwing a complete game, allowing only one run on six hits with a walk and three strikeouts. Doug Fox recorded his first win of the year in relief, getting a strikeout to end the top of the sixth in game one.
Tiffin started out of the gate with a seven-run first. After the first two were hit by a pitch and a single loaded the bases, Osborne came up with a two-RBI double to give Tiffin a quick 2-0 lead. Chris Lowe added an RBI single and two more walks pushed Tiffin's lead to 4-0. That chased Lake Erie starter Michael Backes without recording an out, but the Dragons were not done. After a sacrifice fly by Zach McCutcheon scored another run, a sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position with two outs. A wild pitch and a two-out RBI single by Pat Curtin extended the lead to 7-0.
Lake Erie stormed back to cut it to 7-4 in the fourth, chasing Tiffin starter Donnie Smith. An inning opening walk and single put men on the corners before Michael Fabri homered down the left field line to cut it to four. A walk and error, combined with a wild pitch, cut the Tiffin lead down to three.
The big rally for the Storm came in the bottom of the sixth as the Storm went from three down to doubling up the Dragons, highlighted by a pair of three-run home runs by Leeworthy and Cacique. Tiffin failed to score in the top of the seventh and Lake Erie had the 14-7 win.
Tiffin once again scored its only run in the top of the first, but Lake Erie answered with nine runs over the next four innings for the 9-1 win. With two down and a runner on in the top of the first, Michael Dushane stole second and scored on Cory Osborne's RBI single to give TU a lead. However, Lake Erie answered with three runs in the bottom of the first off of Pistorio thanks to Cicaque's two-run bomb and a two-RBI double by Leeworthy. Leeworthy added a two-run home run in the bottom of the third en route to the eight-run win.
After a pair of away weekend series, Tiffin returns home to face Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference-leader Grand Valley State for a pair of double headers next Saturday and Sunday (April 16-17). First pitch is 1 p.m. Saturday and noon on Sunday.
