UTICA, Mich. - In game one against Cleary, Lawrence Tech dropped a 13-3 decision at UWM Field in Utica after the Cougars turned an early 1-0 edge into a runaway game with home run power and a six-run fifth inning.

The decisive stretch came across the fourth and fifth innings. After a solo home run in the third made it 2-0, Cleary added three more runs in the fourth, including a two-run shot to right-center that pushed the lead to 5-0. The Cougars then broke the game open in the fifth, sending six runs across the plate.

Lawrence Tech's best offensive moment came in the sixth. With two runners aboard, Justin Baird connected for a three-run home run to get the Blue Devils on the board and trim the deficit to 11-3. It accounted for all three Lawrence Tech runs and gave the home side its biggest swing of the afternoon. The Blue Devils finished with four hits and left three runners on base.

Cleary answered in the top half of the sixth to put the game out of reach for good, scoring twice more to make it 13-3. One run came home on an error, and another scored on a single as the Cougars continued to capitalize on extra chances. Cleary finished with 14 hits, while Lawrence Tech was charged with six errors and allowed 13 runs, eight of them earned.

In game two, Lawrence Tech carried a three-run lead into the eighth inning, but Cleary scored in the top of the frame and handed the Blue Devils a 4-3 loss. The decisive swing was followed an RBI single with a three-run home run to turn a 3-0 deficit into a 4-3 Cleary lead.

For most of the afternoon, Lawrence Tech controlled the game behind starter Ethan Hochendoner and a timely offense. Andrew Gingle put the Blue Devils in front in the second inning with an RBI double to right field that brought home Justin Baird. Lawrence Tech added another run in the third when Baird singled up the middle to score Brady Rogers, then pushed the advantage to 3-0 in the fifth on Baird's solo home run.

Baird finished 3 for 4 with two runs scored and two RBIs, accounting for much of Lawrence Tech's offensive production. The Blue Devils outhit Cleary 9-6 and drew four walks, but left 11 runners on base. Gingle's run-scoring double stood as another key offensive moment in a game where Lawrence Tech consistently created chances but could not fully break it open.

Hochendoner was dominant through 7 1/3 innings, striking out 14 while allowing five hits. He threw 115 pitches and kept Cleary scoreless into the eighth, putting Lawrence Tech in position for what would have been a strong win. As a staff, the Blue Devils struck out 15, while Cleary's pitchers combined to allow nine hits and three earned runs.

Cleary's bullpen helped keep the game within reach, they allowed two hits and struck out five over the final stretch. Cleary finished with only six hits, but the one inning breakthrough was enough to erase Lawrence Tech's early work and spoil Hochendoner's outing.

The Blue Devils were one inning away from closing out a complete performance before Cleary's rally changed the game. Instead, Lawrence Tech was left to absorb a loss in which it got strong starting pitching, a three-hit day from Baird.

They will return tomorrow to Utica, Mich. to finish their series against Cleary University at UWM Field.