March 27, 2010
Box Score
(California, Pa.): The Clarion University baseball team traveled to California on Saturday and lost a PSAC-West doubleheader by scores of 8-3 and 5-2 at DiVirgilio Complex in Belle Vernon, Pa.
The Golden Eagles drop to 1-11 overall and 0-6 in the PSAC-West, while California raised its overall record to 13-10 and 8-2 in the Western Division.
Clarion jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first game when Spencer White doubled home Sean Zimmerman and Erik Kempton in the second inning.
Cal tied the game with a two-run homer from Troy Handza in the third, but Clarion reclaimed the lead at 3-2 in the fourth Erik Kempton singled home Sean Zimmerman who doubled with one out.
The Vulcans bounced back with five runs in the fourth and never looked back.
Kevin Gnacinski took the loss for Clarion going 3.2 innings while yielding 7 runs, 6 earned, and struck out one. Jeremy Smith tossed 1.1 innings and gave up one run, while Brett Whitman had a scoreless inning.
Zimmerman and Kempton had two hits each to lead the Eagles at the plate.
The second game saw Clarion lose a tough 5-2 decision to the Vulcans. Brandon Slater was the starter and loser, pitcing 5 innings while giving up only 4 runs, with two of them earned. He walked 3, gave up only 4 hits and struck out 3. Luke Prazenica pitched the final inning and gave up 1 unearned run.
Cal went ahead 2-0 with two runs in the third, and scored a single run in the fifth to go ahead 3-0.
Clarion scored in the sixth when Tom Briley singled, moved to second on a sacrifice, advanced to third an out later, and scored when Jason Krimsky reached on an error by the first baseman.
Cal came right back with two runs in the bottom of the sixth to lead 5-1, then Clarion scored in the top of the seventh when Nate Weiss singled home Chad White with two outs, but Cal closed the door getting Kevin Gnacinski to fly out to end the game.
Tom Briley was 2 for 3 at the plate in game 2 with a run scored.
Clarion will host Cal at Memorial Stadium on Monday with a doubleheader starting at 1pm.
