MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Clarion softball team opened its 2017 season but struggled in its first doubleheader of the year, falling 11-0 in five innings to Felician in the early game and 7-0 to Molloy in the nightcap.  The Golden Eagles (0-2) will have the opportunity to get right back in the saddle tomorrow, though, with games against Le Moyne and Merrimack scheduled at the Ned Donkle Complex.
 
Cassidy Runyan and Kira Smith both notched base hits against Felician in the early game, but the Golden Falcons' Ashley Owens twirled a gem with five innings of shutout ball.  Smith also took the circle for the Golden Eagles and took the decision in the loss.  A seven-run second inning gave the Golden Falcons the victory.
 
Clarion had a chance to respond in the second when Smith led off the frame with a single.  Laura Sadowski reached first on a fielder's choice but was erased on the basepaths with a caught stealing with two outs.  Runyan led off the Golden Eagles' fourth inning with a single and was sacrificed to second by Cassie Daniels, but a flyout to center by Taylor Nonnenberg ended the threat.  Felician took the 11-0 lead into the end of the fifth inning for the win.

Neither team was able to gain traction early in the game with the Lions, with both teams scoreless through two innings.  Rachel Hoffman led off the third inning with a double and was sacrificed to third by Autumn Babcock, but neither Aryn Boyer nor Runyan was able to plate her. 
 
Molloy scored three runs apiece in the third and fourth innings to go ahead 6-0, and then tacked another on in the final inning to complete the win.  Hoffman made the start and took the hard-luck loss.