GAFFNEY, S.C. – Junior rightfielder Avi Ahlzadeh (Dunwoody, Ga.) went 4-for-5 with a fourth inning grand slam, two doubles and five RBIs to lead Limestone College (12-5) baseball team to a 12-6 nonconference win over Lake Erie College (0-6) on Tuesday, March 5 at Bob Prevatte Field. It was the first ever meeting between the two teams.

Senior starter Matt Varnadoe (Charlotte, N.C.) ran into trouble in the top of the first, issuing a bases loaded walk to give the Storm a 1-0 lead, but he escaped the jam by getting the next batter to roll into a 6-4-3 double play, the first of three LC double plays turned on the day. The Saints responded in their half of the first, busting through with four runs in the frame after sending all nine batters to the plate.

Junior leftfielder Chad Balderman (Irmo, S.C.) got the offense rolling with an RBI double before juniors Cooper Gunter (Leesville, S.C.) and Julian Bridges (Shelby, N.C.) followed with run-scoring knocks to help stake Limestone to a 4-1 advantage. The Blue and Gold then opened the flood gates, erupting for seven runs over the third and fourth innings behind a two-run single by junior second baseman KJ McAllister (Wilmington, N.C.) and a grand slam by Ahlzadeh to make it an 11-1 ballgame at the end of four.

Lake Erie responded with a pair of runs in the fifth on an RBI double by Garrett Emling (Tallmadge, Ohio) and a shot through the left side by Zach DeCamp (Gahanna, Ohio), cutting the margin to eight runs, but an RBI double by Ahlzadeh in the bottom of the frame put Limestone on top 12-3. Josh Hudeck (Macedonia, Ohio) then pushed a run home in the top of the sixth with an RBI groundout, pulling the Storm to within 12-4.

The Storm looked to close the gap even further following a leadoff double by DeCamp in the seventh, but he would be thrown out at the plate on a strong throw by Limestone's Josh Greene (York, S.C.) from shallow center to preserve the 12-4 cushion. Lake Erie added two steaks in the ninth on a two-run double by Jake Rimpa (Lyndhurst, Ohio) but it was not quite enough as the Saints doubled up the visitors 12-6.

Both teams combined for 34 hits, 11 doubles and 18 runs.

Varnadoe picked up the win to run his record to 3-1 on the season, allowing three runs on eight hits in five innings. He struck out two. Sophomore Cory Crissone (Gaffney, S.C.) gave up a run in an inning of work while senior Tripp Hodge (Bostic, N.C.) tossed a scoreless inning. Junior David Meikrantz (Middletown, Md.) struck out three in two innings out of the bullpen.

Russ Hogue (Belle Center, Ohio) took the loss for the Storm, surrendering seven runs on 11 hits in 2.2 innings. He fanned a pair. Brandon Grunda (Elyria, Ohio) and Heath Kelly (Mentor, Ohio) combined for four strikeouts in an inning apiece.

Rimpa led Lake Erie with a double and two RBIs in limited duty while DeCamp finished 4-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI.

Ahlzadeh went 4-for-5 with a homerun, two doubles and five RBIs while Balderman and Gunter each chipped in three hits and an RBI. McAllister posted two RBIs while junior third baseman Michael Hughey (Gaffney, S.C.) registed two doubles and two RBIs. Bridges added an RBI.

Limestone returns to action tomorrow, Wednesday, March 6, when it travels to face Newberry College in a nonconference game at 6 p.m.