Cedric Hunter's three-run homer highlighted a five-run second inning -- all of the scoring coming after two were out -- that carried the streaking Storm to an 8-4 victory over High Desert on Wednesday.

Brian Joynt had an RBI single in the top of the first inning for Lake Elsinore but High Desert (21-31 second half, 53-69 overall) countered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first to take the lead.

In the top of the second, with two outs and one on, Keoni Ruth, Jesus Lopez and Javis Diaz strung together consecutive singles to score two runs. Hunter topped off the uprising with a fly ball that cleared the right-field wall for his eighth home run of the season.

With its third victory in a row, Lake Elsinore has now won 10 of its last 15.

Outfielder Kellen Kulbacki, whose .349 average leads the Storm, sat out the game. He has been bothered recently by a shoulder injury.

Second baseman Eric Sogard was 3-for-5 scored twice, knocked in a run and rapped his 32nd double of the season. That came in the sixth inning when he led off with a double and later scored as the Storm pushed across a couple of insurance runs.

Storm starter Drew Miller was knocked around a little bit, giving up two more runs in the bottom of the second as the Mavericks pulled to within 6-4, and was chased after four innings, having allowed four runs and eight hits.

Brandon Gomes succeeded Miller and pitched two hitless innings, notching a pair of strikeouts and picking up his first victory of the season.

The Storm (27-25, 59-63) entered the game 2.5 games behind Cal South Division-leading Lancaster, tied with Inland Empire.