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Box Score 2 RALEIGH, N.C. – The Clarion softball team opened the season with a strong effort on Friday, splitting a doubleheader at the Shaw Challenge in Wilson, N.C. The Golden Eagles started the day with an eight-inning 8-6 loss to Winston-Salem State but rebounded to win in the nightcap, defeating Bowie State 4-1 thanks to a dominant effort from
Rachel Hoffman. Clarion opens the season with a 1-1 record.
Hoffman threw a complete-game, one-run effort in the evening game against the Bulldogs, allowing just three hits while striking out three. She allowed her lone run in the first inning of the game but shut down Bowie State for the remainder. The sophomore had a fine game at the plate against the Rams in the early game, hitting an RBI double against Winston-Salem State.
Paige Baker came up a home run shy of the cycle against the Bulldogs, adding a single, double and triple while also plating
Christina Tressler with an RBI three-bagger in the sixth inning. She scored the first run of the game for the Golden Eagles; trailing 1-0 in the fourth inning, Hoffman brought Baker home on an RBI double to tie the score at 1-1.
Sarah Gossard scored the go-ahead run in the fifth, leading off the inning with a single and coming around on a double from
Marissa Peterson.
Baker finished the nightcap 3-of-4 at the plate, while Peterson went 1-of-4 with the double and the RBI.
The game against the Rams was a high-scoring affair, with Winston-Salem State taking the win on a two-run homer in extra innings. Baker pitched 7.1 innings, striking out four and taking the hard-luck loss. Hoffman plated Baker to put the Golden Eagles ahead 1-0 in the second inning. The Rams took a 3-1 lead in the third but Clarion fought back, with
Casey Wilcox leading off the third with a double and scoring on a single from Peterson. Baker tied the game with an RBI single with one out.
Wilcox reached on an error to lead off the fifth inning and scored on an RBI double by Tressler with one out. Baker reached on a fielder's choice in the next at-bat to bring her home, giving Clarion a 5-3 lead. Wilcox slammed a home run in the seventh inning to tie the game at 6-6, but the Rams held on for the win.
