Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 William J. Hasson Day Pregame ceremony photo gallery

William J. Hasson Day Video

CLARION, Pa. – On a perfect day for baseball in Clarion, the Clarion Golden Eagles and the IUP Crimson Hawks split a PSAC West doubleheader that saw each game come down to the final pitch on William J. Hasson Day at Memorial Field.
 
In Game One, Clarion's Scott Berkes delivered a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh to lift the Golden Eagles to a 3-2 game, before IUP was able to hold off a Clarion rally that saw the tying run 90-feet away in Game Two to get a 6-5 victory.
 
With Game One tied at 2-2 going to the bottom of the seventh, Seth Peterson, who was 2-for-3 in the contest, singled to lead off the inning and Drew Pirritano pinch ran for him. Jon Roncolato then put down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move Pirritano to second, and Berkes delivered a base hit to center that scored a sliding Pirritano ahead of the throw from IUP centerfielder Cory Sawka with the winning run.
 
Clarion (9-23 overall, 6-12 PSAC West) trailed 2-0 after two innings but tied the game with a pair of unearned runs thanks to three IUP errors in the third.
 
With two outs in the third, Berkes, who was 2-for-3 in the game with a run scored and the RBI, singled to center, Clarion's first hit of the game. Jerico Weitzel then drew a walk, and Jon Kemmer loaded the bases when he reached on an error by shortstop Robbie Zinsmeister. Berkes and Weitzel then both scored when IUP third baseman Austin Mock committed two errors on a grounder hit by Ken Morgan. Mock first bobbled the ball allowing Berkes to score and then threw the ball out of play allowing Weitzel to score.
 
Clarion had a shot at taking the lead in the sixth when Hasson, who was honored for his military service prior to the doubleheader by having the day declared William J. Hasson Day by proclamation of Clarion president Dr. Karen M. Whitney, athletic director Dave Katis and head coach Mike Brown, doubled with one out. Matt Rossi then walked, but Josh Beimel grounded into an inning-ending double play.
 
Mike Dunn got the win for Clarion throwing a complete-game six-hitter. He allowed two earned runs while striking out four. He didn't walk a batter. Dunn allowed only three hits after the first two innings when IUP scored a run in each inning.
 
Stephen Cooke was just as tough for IUP (17-18-1, 5-9) allowing three runs, only one earned, on five hits and three walks while striking out seven in 6 1/3 innings while taking the loss, his first of the year. Cooke entered the game 5-0 with a 2.86.
 
In Game Two, Clarion trailed 6-0 after 5 ½ innings, as IUP scored once in the first, three times in the fifth and twice more in the sixth.
 
But the Golden Eagle bats came alive in the bottom of the sixth scoring three runs thanks to some two-out lighting.
 
Jon Kemmer got the rally started with a single, and Ken Morgan then singled to left with both runners taking an extra 90 feet on an error. Hasson then delivered a two-run single before scoring on a double by Rossi to cut IUP's lead in half, 6-3.
 
Clarion once again struck with some two-out lighting in the seventh. Roncolato walked, Weitzel was hit by a pitch and Kemmer walked to load the bases. Morgan then delivered a two-run single to get the Golden Eagles within a run, 6-5, but Hasson grounded out to second base with IUP second baseman Dylan Tice making a nice play on a bad hop to secure the win for the Crimson Hawks.
 
T.J. Anderson took the loss for Clarion going 4 2/3 innings allowing four runs, three earned, on eight hits and two walks while striking out one. Mark White allowed two earned runs on two hits and a walk while striking out one in 1 1/3 innings and Kevin Gnacinski finished off throwing a scoreless inning striking out one.
 
Morgan led the offense going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Kemmer was also 2-for-3 with a run scored while drawing a walk.
 
Matt Szukics picked up the win for IUP throwing six innings and allowing three earned runs on six hits while striking out four. Austin Mock got his sixth save despite allowing two runs on one hit and two walks while also hitting a batter.
 
Clarion and IUP conclude their season series with a doubleheader at IUP Saturday. The first game is now scheduled to start at 11 a.m. because of the threat of inclement weather later in the day.