Box Score CLARION BASEBALL LOSES 9-4 DECISION AT FRANCIS MARION

(Florence, S.C.): Clarion pounded out 12 hits including 2 each by Drew Pirritano, Derek Danver and Tyler Falk, but Francis Marion countered with 13 hits and nine runs to defeat the Golden Eagles 9-4 in a game that ended Clarion's 2014 Spring baseball trip on Wednesday afternoon.

Held at FMU's Sparrow Stadium, Clarion dropped to 2-6 on the season and 1-5 on the trip, while Francis Marion raised their record to 13-12. Clarion will travel to Mercyhurst on Friday to open PSAC-West play with a scheduled 1pm doubleheader. With the Lakers having a turf field, Clarion will play the Saturday dh at Mercyhurst as well, since Clarion's field is not playable.

Francis Marion scored three runs in the first off starter and loser Troy Kumar. Kumar pitched 1.2 innings and yielded 3 runs on 6 hits.

Ken DiBucci came on in relief and gave up three runs in the third inning, while Sam Skraba yielded three runs in the fourth for FMU to take a 9-1 lead.

Clarion scored in the fourth when Derek Danver tripled, and Nick Maskrey singled him home.

The Eagles scored 3 runs in the fifth to narrow FMU's lead to 9-4. John Finke reached on an error and Ben Thomas walked. After Finke was picked off second, Joey Lopez walked, and then with two outs, Nathan Bonfardine doubled down the left field line to score two runs and make it 9-3. Danver followed with a single to score Bonfardine to make it 9-4, but that's all the closer the Eagles could get.

Pirritano, Danver and Falk had two hits apiece, while Bonfardine led with 2 rbi's.

Colten Gossett, Brendon Fitzgerald, Jason Gerland and Tanner Fitting all pitched one inning of shutout baseball to finish the game.