ERIE, Pa. – The Clarion baseball team lost both ends of a conference road doubleheader on Friday, falling by 3-0 and 8-4 scores to PSAC West rival Mercyhurst in Erie.  With the losses Clarion is now 4-17 overall, 1-9 in PSAC West play.
 
Three Golden Eagles added multi-hit games in the nightcap against the Lakers, with Tyler Delval, Tyler Falk and Mitchell Holmberg all recording two base hits in the late game.  Clarion was limited to just two hits in their Game 1 shutout loss, with Mike Lockhart and Austin Mike adding the knocks.
 
Delval was victimized for the loss in the Game 1, allowing three runs – two earned – in 6.0 innings pitched.  The reigning PSAC West Co-Pitcher of the Week struck out four and walked just one in the hard-luck loss.  Sean White took the hill in Game 2 and left with a no-decision after allowing three runs in 5.0 innings pitched; Clarion trailed 3-0 when he came out but the Golden Eagles tacked on three in the top of the sixth inning to get him off the hook.  Chase Gorski allowed five runs in the sixth inning in taking the loss.
 
The best chance for a Clarion comeback in Game 1 came in the top of the sixth inning.  Josh Ponsoll reached first on a one-out walk and was promptly advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Holmberg.  Falk, however, was unable to bring Ponsoll home, striking out to end the inning.  The Golden Eagles had another chance in the seventh when Finke reached first after striking out as the catcher couldn't handle the ball.  Austin Mike hit a two-out single to right but was thrown out at second base trying to stretch it out, ending the inning and the game as Mercyhurst won 3-0.
 
Mercyhurst took a 3-0 lead in the second game, bringing one across in the bottom of the second and two in the fifth, but the Golden Eagles responded with a three-run sixth to draw even.  Mason McGuire led off the inning with a single and was followed by Ponsoll, who drew a walk.  Delval loaded the bases with a single to shallow center and Falk slapped a single to right in the next at-bat to drive in McGuire.  Ponsoll also came around to score as the right fielder mishandled the chance, cutting the Lakers' lead to 3-2.  Holmberg drove in the third run, scoring Delval from third with a hard shot to the shortstop.
 
The Lakers scored five in the sixth inning to build an 8-3 lead, but Clarion attempted to chip away late.  Ponsoll stroked a two-out double to left field and Delval went the opposite way in the next at-bat, sending out to right field to score him and make it 8-4.  Falk battled but ultimately popped up to second as Mercyhurst held on for the win.