ERIE, Pa. – Despite scoring the most runs in a doubleheader in nearly five years, the Clarion University softball team was swept in a PSAC West doubleheader at Mercyhurst Friday afternoon.
The Golden Eagles combined to score 13 runs in the twinbill but dropped a pair of one-run games losing game one 8-7 after losing a 7-1 lead and game two 8-7 in eight innings.
The 13 tallies were the most total runs by Clarion in a doubleheader since scoring 21 in a sweep of defending national champion Lock Haven April 17, 2010, in Clarion (the Golden Eagles won 12-3 and 9-7 that day).
Eight different Golden Eagles had at least two hits Friday led by
Paige Baker who had four hits in the doubleheader.
Lydia Middaugh continued her recent solid play with three hits including her second career home run, while
Casey Wilcox and
Taylor Powell also had three hits apiece with Powell also hitting a home run, while adding a double and collecting four RBIs.
Christina Tressler,
Carra Stevens,
Megan Anderson and
Ashley Barenchik each had two hits including a home run by Tressler.
Powell had the hot bat in game one doing 3-for-4 and missing the cycle by a triple – she struck out in her fourth at bat after hitting a home run, a single and a double in her first three – and driving home four. Her first-inning three-run home run helped Clarion gain a 6-1 lead at the end of two innings – five second-inning singles helped the Golden Eagles score three runs in the second.
The lead eventually grew to 7-1 in the fourth thanks to a Tressler home run.
But Gannon scored four runs in the fifth and two in the sixth to tie the game at seven before winning the game with a run in the bottom of the seventh.
Middaugh, who has hit safely in nine of her last 10 games while hitting .300 (9 of 30) during that span – was 2-for-4 in the game with a pair of singles and a run scored.
Chelsea Zola took the loss in relief of
Paige Baker going 1.1 innings and allowing two runs on three hits and a walk. Baker, who left with the lead, gave up six runs, just two earned, on eight hits and a walk while striking out three in 5.1 innings of work.
Game two was another tough loss for Clarion, which led 6-4 going to the bottom of the seventh only to see Mercyhurst score twice in the inning on a two-out single to right and then push across the winning run in the eighth.
The Golden Eagles jumped up 2-0 in the second when Middaugh, who had never hit a home run until going deep Sunday at California (Pa.) hit her second home run in less than a week.
After Mercyhurst responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second and two more in the third to go ahead 4-2, a three-run sixth gave Clarion the lead back. Stevens had a two-out, two-run single in the inning, and Anderson added a two-out, run-scoring hit as well.
The Golden Eagles then picked up an unearned run in the seventh when pinch runner
Audrey Hummel scored when Middaugh reached on an error.
Baker paced the offense going 3-for-4 with three singles and two runs scored. Stevens went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Wilcox added a 2-for-4 performance.
Shawnna Crago took the loss in relief pitching the final 5.2 innings allowing five runs on seven hits and four walks and a hit batter while striking out three.
Lyndsey Jones started and went 1.2 innings giving up two runs, one earned, on five hits and a walk while striking out one.
Clarion fell to 5-23 overall and 4-18 in the PSAC West, while Mercyhurst improved to 12-20, 6-11.
The Golden Eagles return to action when they host Gannon in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
