April 22, 2009
Box Score
PITTSBURGH – Freshman Brandon Slater, making his first career start, tossed a five-hit, one-run gem and Sean Zimmerman scored the eventual winning run on an error in the top of the eighth inning to help Clarion earn a split of a doubleheader at Point Park with a 2-1, eight-inning win in Game Two of the twinbill Wednesday afternoon.
Point Park won Game One 7-6 when it scored a run in the bottom of the seventh.
Slater, Clarion’s closer who was given the late-season start, quickly helped the Golden Eagles (12-29) forget the heartbreaking Game One loss by going the first seven innings in Game Two allowing the one run, in the first inning, on the five hits and three walks while striking out 11. Erik Kempton came picked up his first save of the season by pitching a scoreless bottom of the eighth. He allowed a leadoff walk but then retired the next three batters to give Clarion its first win since Game One of a doubleheader with Lock Haven April 11.
Clarion’s offense, which had been quite most of Game Two, tied the game at one with a run in the sixth despite the benefit of a hit. Kirk Hays, Scott Berkes and Zimmerman each drew walks before Adam Foltz hit a sacrifice fly to knot the game at 1-1.
Foltz was the at the plate with two outs in the eighth with Zimmerman, who had walked and moved to third on an error, standing 90 feet away when he hit a ball to the third baseman that turned into an error and the go-ahead run.
Matt Rossi had four hits, all singles, in the second game, while Berkes had a pair of base knocks.
In Game One, Berkes suffered the loss going 2 1/3 innings and allowing two runs including the game winner in the seventh. Scott Keebler started and went 4 1/3 innings allowing five runs.
Jason Krimsky had a pair of doubles and an RBI for Clarion, Rossi had two hits as did Jim Pernick. Andrew Petruska, Berkes and Hays joined Krimsky with RBIs.
Clarion closes out its road season with a doubleheader at Slippery Rock Friday. First pitch of Game One is set for 1 p.m. The Golden Eagles then close out the season with a doubleheader with Slippery Rock starting at noon Saturday at Memorial Field.
