LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Senior Paige Baker twirled a gem in one of the final games of her college career, throwing a complete-game shutout against Lock Haven as the Golden Eagles split with the Bald Eagles on the road on Friday.  Clarion won the early game by a score of 1-0 before dropping another pitchers' duel in the late game, falling 2-0.
 
Baker (2-7) was dominant as she goes down the stretch in her college career, holding Lock Haven to five hits while striking out six Bald Eagles.  There were a couple near-misses in which Lock Haven threatened to score, with Baker stranding runners on third in both the fifth and seventh innings. 
 
The last of those instances came with the game on the line in the bottom of the seventh inning.  After striking out the leadoff batter, Baker walked the next batter.  She induced a popout for the second out, but pinch runner Paige Stuppy advanced to third base on an error that also placed Faith Ceely on second.  Baker bore down with the final batter, though, freezing Jessica Strouse for a third strike looking to end the game.
 
Clarion didn't get the game-winning run until the top of the sixth inning, though, as Lock Haven got similarly strong pitching.  Taylor Nonnenberg led off the frame with a single and advanced to second on a misplay in left field.  Casey Wilcox brought her around to score when she drove a single through the middle of the infield to make it 1-0.
 
In game two, Rachel Hoffman (5-14) was stuck with the hard-luck loss after allowing just two runs in six innings pitched.  In her usual efficient fashion, she struck out five and walked none as she kept the Golden Eagles in the contest.  Hoffman and Wilcox were the only two Golden Eagles to notch hits, though neither reached scoring position as Lock Haven controlled the game.