PEMBROKE – The 11^th-ranked UNC Pembroke baseball team plated three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to break open a close game, but Lake Erie countered with a 5-run ninth, including a go-ahead grand slam by Colby Waller, to upset the Braves in the series opener on Saturday afternoon at Sammy Cox Field.
 
Nick Salisbury walked, singled twice and scored a pair of runs on a 2-for-3 day at the plate to pace the Braves (10-2) who had their nine-game win streak stopped with the result. Roberto Rivera walked and drove in a run on a 2-for-3 showing for the hosts as well.
 
Waller walked, homered twice and drove in five runs on a perfect 3-for-3 hitting line to lead the Storm (4-1). Ryan Carver (2-for-4) turned in a pair of hits for Lake Erie as well.
 
Kyle Ramsey (1-1) struck out one and allowed the game-deciding home run in the ninth to saddle the loss for the Black & Gold. Starter Anthony Burke struck out four and scattered three hits over 5-1/3 innings from the mound, but was not awarded a decision.
 
Christopher Mutter (1-0) pitched a scoreless eighth to grab the win for the Storm, while Jacob Green struck out two in a scoreless ninth to notch his first save of the campaign.
 
UNCP utilized three hits and a pair of costly errors by the Storm to plate three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, but was unable to hold off Lake Erie. UNCP reliever Hank Simpson issued free passes to each of the first two batters in the top of the last frame to set the table for a RBI single from Ryan Carver that cut into the deficit for the visitors. Nathan Erzen drew a full-count walk to juice the bases for the Storm minutes later.