ERIE – Despite a nine-run outburst in Game Two of a doubleheader with Mercyhurst Wednesday, the Clarion University baseball team was swept by the Lakers in Erie.
Mercyhurst won Game One 8-0 and then took the twinbill by winning Game Two 17-9.
In both games, Clarion (8-23 overall, 6-10) found itself down early.
In Game One, the Golden Eagles trailed 4-0 at the end of the first inning and 7-0 after two.
In the second game, Clarion was down 5-1 at the end of the first and 7-1 after two.
The only difference between the games was Clarion's offense in Game Two where the Golden Eagles were able to put up their second-highest run total of the season. But it wasn't enough to offset a 25-hit barrage by Mercyhurst.
Josh Beimel had a solid day at the plate for Clarion going a combined 3-for-6 with an RBI, two runs scored and an RBI. He had one of two Golden Eagle hits in Game One –
Dane Dobson had the other one – and then scored Clarion's first run in Game Two while going 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
Also in Game Two,
Chad White was 1-for-2 with two RBIs,
Jerico Weitzel was 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored and
Bill Hasson was 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Also scoring for
Taking the Game One loss for Clarion was Roncolato who started and lasted 1 2/3 innings allowing seven runs, all earned, on six hits, one walk and two hit batters while striking out two.
Matt Warhola relieved going 1 1/3 innings allowing one earned run on two hits and a walk while hitting three batters.
Kevin Gnacinski finished off pitching four innings without allowing a run. He gave up five hits.
Clarion manager
Mike Brown elected to go right back to Gnacinski in Game Two, but the sophomore allowed seven runs, all earned, on nine hits and one hit batter in 1 2/3 innings of work.
Sam Skraba relieved and went 2 2/3 innings allowing two runs, none of them earned, on five hits and a walk while striking out two.
Bill Ruhland then went one inning allowing four runs, three earned, on five hits and a walk. Hasson finished off pitching the final two innings allowing four runs, all earned, on six hits and a walk while striking out one.
Clarion is now back in action at 1 p.m. Thursday when it travel to IUP for a doubleheader. The game was originally scheduled for Saturday but has been moved to Thursday because of forecasted weather. In another schedule change, the Golden Eagles home doubleheader slated for Friday with IUP will now be played at noon Friday at Butler's Pullman Park.
NOTES – Clarion was the home team in the games at Mercyhurst. The games were moved because of field conditions at Clarion.
