Lake Erie Survives Lock Haven's Eighth-Inning Surge, Wins 11-10 in 11 Innings

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — It took 11 innings, a jaw-dropping eighth-inning collapse, and a clutch walk-off single to get there, but Lake Erie escaped with an 11-10 victory over Lock Haven on Saturday at Wagener Field, improving to 2-8 on the season.

The Storm needed every one of those extra frames after squandering a seven-run lead, only to storm back twice and ultimately push across the decisive run in the 11th on a B. Hazuda single that scored S. Yacobucci.

Hazuda was the offensive engine for Lake Erie all afternoon, going 4-for-6 with four RBI and a run scored. The junior designated hitter delivered in every critical moment, including a two-RBI single in the ninth that helped the Storm erase a 10-8 deficit and force extra innings.

Lake Erie came out swinging in the top of the first, sending nine men to the plate and scoring four runs. H. Aurand ignited the rally with a leadoff triple and eventually scored on a Hazuda single. After M. Geise drew a bases-loaded walk, B. Carman capped the frame with a two-RBI single to make it 4-0.

Lake Erie starter D. Poltrone settled in nicely after surrendering three runs in the first inning — one unearned due to catcher's interference — and locked down Lock Haven over the next five innings, finishing with six innings pitched, four hits, and six strikeouts.

The Storm pushed the lead to 6-4 in the fifth when T. Williams and T. Yankovich hit back-to-back home runs off Lock Haven reliever N. Mostosky. Williams' solo shot came first, followed immediately by Yankovich's solo blast to give Lake Erie what appeared to be a comfortable cushion heading into the late innings.

Then came the eighth.

Lock Haven sent 12 batters to the plate and scored six runs, turning a 7-4 deficit into a 10-7 lead. The rally featured three hit batsmen, a fielder's choice, a key single from E. Nagy that plated two, and a J. Martoccio RBI single. Lake Erie's bullpen issued multiple free passes and had no answer for the relentless pressure.

But the Storm refused to fold. In the top of the ninth, Lake Erie rallied for three runs against E. Schmelz, with Hazuda delivering the game-tying two-RBI single to knot the game at 10.

After a scoreless 10th, Lake Erie manufactured the winning run in the 11th. Yacobucci reached on a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch, then moved to third on a passed ball. Hazuda then poked a single into the outfield to score Yacobucci and set off the celebration.

H. Lefkus earned the win in relief, tossing three innings of work. N. Spicer closed it out in the 11th, retiring Lock Haven in order to earn the save.

Aurand finished 2-for-5 with a triple, a double, and two runs scored, while Carman drove in two with his first-inning single and Yankovich added a home run among his two hits.

Lock Haven, now 1-6, was undone by its inability to hold the lead and strand runners in extra innings.