NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – After winning its first four games for the first time in 25 years, the Clarion University softball team dropped its first two games of the 2011 season Wednesday losing 2-0 to Charleston (W. Va.) and 5-4 to Oakland City.

 

The nightcap was a tough loss for the Golden Eagles, who rallied from a 5-0 deficit in the seventh inning to close within 5-4 and had the tying run on third and the winning run on second with one out but couldn't get either one home.

 

Paige Alexander started the rally with a leadoff single and moved to second when Kirsten Wilcox reached on an error. After a Rebecca Lynch fly out moved the runners up 60 feet each, Elizabeth Shiring scored both of them on a bunt single. Nicole Linder then doubled putting runners on second and third, and Kacie Nemeth drove both runners home with a double of her own. Nicole Lollo then doubled, but Nemeth was only able to reach third when the outfielder cut the ball off in the gap. Carlie Cook popped out to shortstop and Katie Baun grounded out to third to end the game.

 

Oakland City had jumped out to the 5-0 lead with a single run in the third, two more in the fourth, one in the fifth and one in the seventh.

 

Erica Burkey took the loss for Clarion going 6 2/3 innings allowing five earned runs on 10 hits and a walk while striking out one. Alexander and Wilcox were both 2-for-3 with a run scored for Clarion.

 

In the first game, Charleston scored the game's only two runs in the fifth inning.

 

Megan Daley took the loss for Clarion pitching six innings and allowing two earned runs on five hits and a walk while striking out five. Clarion had two hits in the game, one each from Lynch and Lollo.