The Lake Elsinore Storm fell 11-1 to the Inland Empire 66ers on September 4, 2026, at Diamond Stadium in a California League men’s baseball matchup. Despite a strong early showing by Storm right-handed pitcher Lan-Hong Su, the team could not contain the 66ers’ offensive surge in the later innings.
Lan-Hong Su delivered an impressive start, carrying a no-hitter into the fifth inning and striking out a career-high nine batters. Inland Empire’s Jack Bowery matched the early dominance with five shutout innings and six strikeouts, keeping the game scoreless through four frames.
The scoring began in the fifth when Su hit Grant Jay with a pitch. Kelvin Alcantara then launched a two-run home run for the 66ers, breaking the deadlock with Lake Elsinore trailing 2-0. Connor Dykstra followed with a solo homer in the same inning, extending Inland Empire’s lead to 3-0. The 66ers added a run in the sixth and three more in the seventh, building a 7-0 advantage heading into the eighth.
Lake Elsinore’s offense responded with a single run in the eighth inning on Joe Tiroly’s RBI single. However, the Storm bullpen faltered in the ninth when first baseman Augie Lopez was used as a relief pitcher, allowing four runs and bringing the final score to 11-1 in favor of Inland Empire.
With this loss, Lake Elsinore holds a 12-10 lead in the season series against the 66ers. The teams are scheduled to meet again on September 5, 2026, when Lake Elsinore will start left-hander Kruz Schoolcraft against Inland Empire’s right-hander Jackson Steensma.
CSB Take
Lan-Hong Su’s outstanding start highlighted the Storm’s potential but was overshadowed by late-game struggles from the offense and bullpen. The game underscores the need for sustained hitting and reliable relief pitching to secure wins. Facing one final matchup in this season series, Lake Elsinore must address these areas to regain momentum and close out the series strong.
Source: Original report
