April 17, 2010

Box Score

CLARION - The Clarion University softball team's bats came alive as it swept a conference doubleheader from defending national champion Lock Haven Saturday afternoon by scores of 12-3 in six innings and 9-7.

In Game One the Golden Eagles (6-29, 4-12 PSAC-Central) used a four-run fourth inning to break open a 1-1 tie. Nicole Lollo and Katie Baun led off the inning with back-to-back walks. After a Rachelle Yarger sac bunt, Nicole Lindner walked to load the bases. Rebecca Lynch doubled in two runs breaking the tie. Kacie Nemeth plated the other two runs with a single giving Clarion a 5-1 lead.

Lock Haven (16-17, 5-9) responded with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth but the Golden Eagles bounced right back when Lynch tripled with the bases loaded in the bottom of the inning.

Yarger sealed the deal with a two-out grand slam in the bottom of the sixth that put the eight-run mercy rule into effect.

Megan Daley picked up the complete-game win giving up three runs, all earned, on seven hits, three walks and a strike out.

Lynch and Yarger paced the Golden Eagle offense with five RBIs apiece.

In Game Two, Clarion jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning only to see Lock Haven come back and score six runs in the top of the second capped by a two-run Amanda Gutmaker home run.

The Golden Eagles bounced back again scoring six runs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead back. With one out and runners on first and second, Lindner singled home Baun to get the inning started. Yarger scored on a Nemeth fielder's choice where Lock Haven second baseman Merideth Myers decided to throw home. The throw was wide and went out of play plating Lindner and putting runners on second and third. Marissa Myers drove home Lynch and Nemeth with a single.

Clarion scored a run in the fourth when Carlie Cook led off with a single and scored on a Lollo fielder's choice.

The teams traded runs in the fifth to set the final score at 9-7.

Marissa Myers finished 3 for 4 with two RBIs to lead the Clarion offense.

Erica Burkey went seven innings giving up seven runs, six earned, on 10 hits, striking out five, walking three to get the win.

NOTES - Clarion finished the season strong winning three of its last four games ... With her four RBIs Yarger finished with 16, which is the fourth most since 2000 ... Natalie Zimmerman has the most since 2000 with 24 in 2007... Myers finished her career with 41 walks, which is good for fourth since 2000 ... Cook, a junior, finished the season with 139 total career bases, which are the most since 2000... Clarion's four conference wins are the most since 2004 when it went 8-12 in the PSAC-West.