UTICA, Mich - In game one against Cleary, Lawrence Tech briefly grabbed the lead in the middle innings, but Cleary answered with a three-run fifth and late insurance to hand the Blue Devils a 12-9 loss.

The decisive stretch came after Lawrence Tech turned a 4-1 deficit into a 5-4 advantage. Isaiah Logan sparked the comeback with a two-run home run to center in the second, and Andrew Merz followed with a two-run homer to center in the third to put the Blue Devils in front. Cleary tied the game at 6-6 in the fourth, then used a string of walks and timely hits in the fifth.

Cleary set the tone early with four runs in the first inning. Lawrence Tech answered with power and continued to chip away, scoring once in the first, twice in the second, twice in the third, once in the fourth, two more in the sixth and one in the seventh.

The Blue Devils stayed within striking distance into the late innings. After Cleary pushed its lead to 10-8 in the sixth on a fly ball that brought home a run, Lawrence Tech answered with two runs in the bottom half. Cleary then created separation in the seventh with a two-run double to left, extending the margin to 12-9. Ty Schornak answered with a solo home run in the bottom of the inning, but Lawrence Tech could not complete the final rally.

Merz finished with a home run and two RBIs for Lawrence Tech, while Logan also drove in two with his second-inning shot. Schornak added the late homer, part of a 10-hit offensive day for the Blue Devils.

The final numbers reflected how tight the game was for much of the afternoon. Both teams committed one error, but Cleary made the most of nine walks and finished with 10 RBIs. Lawrence Tech scored nine runs on 10 hits and left six on base.

In game two, Lawrence Tech broke open a tight game with timely scoring in the second and fifth innings, then leaned on a strong start from Max Coughlin to beat Cleary 4-1. The Blue Devils seized control in the bottom of the second. Justin Baird came home on Ty Schornak's RBI groundout, and Lawrence Tech added another run on a Cleary error to take a 2-0 lead. That cushion held until the fourth, when Cleary cut the margin to 2-1.

Lawrence Tech answered in the bottom of the fifth with the game's defining insurance runs. Baird doubled and later scored as the Blue Devils pushed the lead back to two runs. Andrew Merz then delivered an RBI single, extending the advantage to 4-1 and giving the home side enough room to close out the win.

Coughlin set the tone on the mound for Lawrence Tech, working six innings, allowing one run on four hits. He struck out three while earning the win. The Blue Devils finished the game without an error, a clean defensive effort that helped preserve the lead after Cleary put six hits on the board.

Baird and Merz led the Lawrence Tech offense with two hits apiece. Baird scored twice, drove in a run and doubled in four at-bats. Merz added an RBI and reached twice by hit-by-pitch in addition to his two-hit day. Schornak also contributed an RBI in the second inning, when Lawrence Tech first broke through.

Cleary managed six hits as well, but the Cougars committed three errors, and Lawrence Tech capitalized on the extra chances. After the Blue Devils built the 4-1 lead through five innings, the pitching staff and defense carried it the rest of the way.

They are set to compete back at home at UWM Field in Utica, Mich. Friday, April 17 against Cornerstone University.