By Mike Monaco

EASTLAKE, Ohio — South Bend clocked a pair of home runs and shut out Lake County, 4-0, in seven innings Monday night at Classic Park to collect its first series sweep this season.

After winning Friday’s series opener with the Captains, 6-5, South Bend resumed game two, which began Sunday afternoon before rain halted it, on Monday and came from behind to win 5-4. The Cubs finished the sweep later in the night. The fourth game of the series will not be played.

South Bend second baseman Andrew Ely (2-for-3, one home run, one double, two RBI) and right fielder Kevin Encarnacion (1-for-3, one home run) supplied enough offense for Cubs starter Erick Leal, who only allowed two hits through five innings. The 20-year old from Venezuela did not allow a hit to any of the final 14 batters he faced.

Cubs right-handed reliever Brad Markey worked a 1-2-3 sixth inning, and lefty Jordan Minch did the same in the seventh.

Before the series with Lake County, South Bend had lost 11 of its previous 12 road games.

Ely wasted no time handing the Cubs an early advantage. With two outs and nobody on, the former University of Washington standout roped a line-drive home run to right field. Ely extended his hitting streak to five games and finishes the road trip 10-for-19.

Ely was back at it his next trip to the plate in the third. He blasted another shot to the right-field wall and scored left fielder Rashad Crawford from third. On the ensuing relay throw, center fielder Charcer Burks was able to score, as well, and stretch the lead to 3-0.

Encarnacion drilled a solo home run to right-center field with two outs in the top of the fourth. The home run was the first for Encarnacion, who missed the entire 2014 season due to a right arm injury, since Sept. 1, 2013.

After a six-game road trip, South Bend returns to action Wednesday, when the Cubs host the Cedar Rapids Kernels at 7:05 p.m. ET at Four Winds Field. South Bend right-hander Zach Hedges (2-4, 4.78 ERA) is scheduled to oppose Kernels righty Felix Jorge (3-2, 2.42 ERA). The series with Cedar Rapids marks the first of four consecutive Western Division opponents dotting the South Bend schedule.