CLARION, Pa. – The Clarion baseball team played its 2016 home opener in front of a hardy crowd near Memorial Stadium on Sunday, but the Golden Eagles fell by scores of 6-3 and 9-0 to California (Pa.) in a doubleheader. Clarion is now 3-10 on the season and 0-4 in PSAC West play.
Mitchell Holmberg and
John Finke were the standouts in Game 1, with Holmberg going 3-of-4 at the plate with a run scored and Finke driving in a pair of runs.
Brian Laurito tried to spark a rally in the seventh with a home run in the seventh inning, but the Golden Eagles couldn't complete the comeback as the Vulcans buckled down.
California scored three times in the top of the first inning to take a 3-0 lead, but the Golden Eagles fought back to pull within a run. Holmberg led off with a double to the right-center gap and advanced to third on a passed ball, and
Josh Ponsoll stole second after a walk to put runners on second and third with no outs. Finke ripped a double into left field to bring home Holmberg and Ponsoll, making it 3-2.
Tyler Falk advanced Finke to third on a groundout but Clarion couldn't get that last run across, with the Vulcans escaping the jam with the lead. The Vulcans tacked on two runs in the bottom of the third to make it 5-2 and took a 6-2 lead in the top of the fifth.
The Golden Eagles didn't roll over, though, putting together a rally in the seventh that brought the tying run to the plate. Laurito led off the inning with a solo home run off Levi Krause to cut the lead to 6-3, and Holmberg followed that up with a double. Holmberg advanced to third on a passed ball and Ponsoll walked to put runners on the corners, but Matt Carter retired each of the next three batters to end the threat and the game.
The Vulcans maintained a stronger grip on the second game, scoring the only run they'd need in the top of the third after stealing home with the bases loaded. A two-RBI double made it 3-0 and then the pitching seized control, limiting the Golden Eagles to just three baserunners the entire game.
