March 20, 2010

Box Score

CLARION - The Clarion University softball team capped off its home-opening doubleheader in walk-off style beating Lake Erie College 5-4 on Carlie Cook's one-out single to right-center field in Game Two to earn a split of Saturday's twinbill at Memorial Field.

Nicole Lollo started the rally with a one-out hustling triple over the first-base bag and scored when Cook delivered her third hit of the game.

The seventh-inning rally helped the Golden Eagles (2-7) get the split in the doubleheader after Lake Erie won Game One 10-4.

Clarion had the early advantage in Game Two scoring three times in the bottom of the first to erase a 1-0 deficit and then tacking on a run in the second to go ahead 4-1.

But Lake Erie battled back late scoring twice in the sixth to get within a run and then pushing the tying run across in the top of the seventh using a two-out rally off reliever Megan Daley to get the tying run home. The Storm then had the bases loaded with two outs before a groundout ended the inning.

Clarion's first three runs came thanks to four first-inning hits. Lollo and Randi Pace had RBI singles and Cook and run-producing double in the frame. Corinna Sternthal then added an RBI single in the second to make it 4-1.

Daley got the win in relief allowing the one run, it was earned, on two hits and a walk. Erica Burkey started and went six innings allowing three runs, two earned, on nine hits and two walks.

Cook and Lollo led the offense with each going 3-for-4. Cook had the double and two RBI's while scoring a run with Lollo adding the triple, two runs scored and an RBI. Rebecca Lynch chipped in a 2-for-3 game with a double and a run scored, while Nicole Lindner was 2-for-4 out of the leadoff spot with a run scored.

Clarion had 13 hits in the game, tying a season high. It was the most hits at home for the Golden Eagles since getting 13 in an 8-7 loss to Slippery Rock, April 11, 2005, a game that saw current Clarion interim head coach Nicole Banner have a pinch hit appearance for Slippery Rock.

In Game One, Clarion led 3-1 after three innings before Lake Erie scored five times in the fourth and four more in the fifth to get the 10-4 win.

Burkey started and took the loss going 3 1/3 innings allowing six runs, all earned, on nine hits and two walks while striking out two. Daley finished off going 3 2/3 innings allowing four runs, two earned, on three hits and four walks while striking out two.

Kacie Nemeth led the Clarion offense going 2-for-2 with her first career home run, and the first homer by a Golden Eagle this year, and a double. She drove in three and scored twice. Cook was 1-for-4 with a double and two runs scored, while Sternthal was 1-for-4 with a run scored.

Clarion returns to action Sunday when it hosts Tiffin in a doubleheader starting at noon.