Walk Off Win Caps Storm Sweep

LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. - The Storm came into the three-game weekend series trailing Inland Empire in the standings by just two games with two weeks left in the first half. By Sunday evening, they would overtake everyone in the standings.
On Fireworks Friday, the good guys put on an offensive display with five extra-base hits. Leading the charge were Hudson Potts and Brad Zunica. Potts connected for his 16^th and 17^th doubles of the season while Zunica hit a two-run home run in the fifth; his fifth of the season. Nate Easley also added a pair of base knocks to collect two RBIs. Reggie Lawson earned his fourth win of the season as the Storm went on to take the series opener, 8-6.
In front of a sold-out crowd on Saturday, joined by Thunder and a plethora of his mascot friends there to celebrate his 18^th birthday, Lake Elsinore jumped to an early lead, putting up four runs in the first inning. The scoring output was highlighted by Zunica's second home run in as many nights; a moon shot off the video board in right-center field.
Adrian Morejon again looked outstanding in his start, giving up just one run in six frames while tallying seven punchouts. Blake Rogers and Elliot Ashbeck combined for three shutout innings in relief.
A rocky start on Sunday saw the Storm quickly fall behind 6-1, but timely hitting and eight walks allowed Lake Elsinore to work themselves into a competitive ballgame. With the game tied at 6-6, Kelvin Melean led off the bottom of the ninth with a double down the third base chalk. Inland Empire put Chris Baker on intentionally to give themselves a double play opportunity. Greg Lambert then laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position. With one out and the first baseman playing well off the line, Buddy Reed sat on a pitch to poke it down the line in right for the walk-off win to cap a weekend sweep, the second straight series sweep at The Diamond.
The Storm return to Lake Elsinore on Monday for a seven-game homestand. They will open with four games against the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes before a three-game series against the Lancaster JetHawks to conclude the first half of the season. Visit stormbaseball.com or call 951-245-HITS for tickets.