Box Score DELVAL, FALK & LOCKHART LIFT CLARION TO SPLIT VS PITT-JOHNSTOWN

(Clarion, Pa.): Clarion sophomore Tyler Delval (Cokeburg/Bentworth) pitched a shutout, Tyler Falk (Fr. Fombell/Riverside) went 3 for 3 and Mike Lockhart (So. Waterford/Fort LeBoeuf) hit a three-run homer leading Clarion to a 9-0 win in game one leading the Golden Eagles to a PSAC-West split at Pitt-Johnstown on Monday. Falk finished 6 for 7 on the day, but Clarion lost game two 11-6.

Played at the Point Stadium in Johnstown, Pa., Clarion raised its record to 4-12 overall and 2-6 in the PSAC-West, while UPJ is now 9-14 overall and 4-4 in the West. The doubleheader, originally scheduled at Clarion, was played at UPJ's turf field because of field conditions locally.

Delval pitched a 7-inning, complete game shutout in game one giving up only 5 hits and walking 1 with no strikeouts.

The Golden Eagles scored twice in the second when Falk (photo left) singled, Lockhart reached on an error, advanced to third on a bunt, and both scored when Joey Lopez hit a ball to the first baseman who misplayed the ball with both runs scoring.

In the third Clarion saw Derek Danver walk, Nick Maskrey single, and Falk bring Danver home on a single to right center field. Lockhart came up and homered to left center field and the Eagles had a 6-0 lead.

Clarion added three more in the fifth when Falk singled with two outs and when Lockhart reached on an error, Falk scored with Lockhart ending at second. Josh Ponsoll tripled Lockhart home, and Lopes singled Ponsoll home to make the final score 9-0.

In game two Pitt-Johnstown scored 5 runs in the first inning off starter and loser Sean White. White pitched two innings and gave up 8 runs, 7 earned on 6 hits with 1 walk and 1 strikeout.

Clarion scored 2 in the bottom of the first when Drew Pirritano singled, Ponsoll walked, and with one out, advanced a base on a wild pitch. Falk delivered a key two out single scoring two runs and bringing the Eagles to within 5-2.

UPJ went ahead 9-2 heading to the bottom of the fifth when the Eagles challenged again scoring four times to make it a 9-6 game. After singles by Danver and Falk, Mitch Holmberg singled to score Danver. Lopez kept the inning alive with a two out walk, then Joe Holmberg singled to right center for a 2 rbi single, and Lopez scored later on a wild pitch for a four-run inning.
UPJ however scored 2 runs in the top of the seventh to seal the 11-6 win.

Sam Skraba pitched 3 innings and gave up only 1 run, while Ken DiBucci pitched 1.1 innings and gave up 2 runs with Jason Gerland pitching .2 innings with no runs allowed.

Falk was 3 for 4 on game two – giving him a 6 for 7 day with 3 rbi's. Joe Holmberg was 3 for 3 in game two with 2 rbi's.

Clarion travels to Slippery Rock on Tuesday for a PSAC-West doubleheader that is set to start at 2:30pm.