March 29, 2008

Box Score

(Indiana, Pa.): Clarion opened the PSAC-West baseball season at IUP on Saturday and dropped both games in the doubleheader to the Crimson Hawks.

Clarion lost a heartbreaking 3-2 game in 11-innings in the opener, then lost 4-2 in the nightcap.

Clarion is now 6-6 overall and 0-2 in the PSAC-West, and is scheduled to return to IUP on Sunday for a doubleheader, since the field at Clarion is not playable.

In game one, the Golden Eagles looked like they were on their way to an extra inning victory. After a scoreless first seven innings, Clarion scored two runs in the eighth to take a 2-0 lead. Andy Petruska doubled home Adam Foltz with two outs to give Clarion a 1-0 lead. Then Doug Brown doubled home Foltz and the Eagles led 2-0 into the bottom of the 8th.

But IUP pushed across two runs in the bottom of the 8th to tie the game. The Crimson Hawks won the game in the 11th when Shane Melhorn doubled home Corey Betz.

Clarion's Eric Panko pitched into the 8th and gave up 2 runs on only 4 hits and struck out 5. Kirk Hays pitched two scoreless innings and Matt White also tossed a scoreless inning. Nate Semovoski came on in the 11th and took the loss. Clairon posted 8 hits, with Andrew Petruska going 3 for 5 with an RBI and Matt White 2 for 5.

In game two Clarion took a 2-0 lead in the third inning. Jordan Premick's ground out scored Jason Krimsky from third for the Eagles first run, then Adam Foltz also grounded out, scoring Kirk Hays to put Clarion ahead 2-0.

IUP scored 1 in the fourth, then took the lead for good with 3 runs in the sixth.

Clarion's Robert Pollum tossed a complete game and took the loss. He pitched 6 innings, gave up 4 hits, 4 runs, three earned and struck out 3.

Clarion had7 hits in game two, with Adam Foltz and Matt Rossi both getting two each.