CLARION, Pa. – The Clarion softball team returned to action at home on Saturday, falling by scores of 2-0 and 9-2 to IUP at the Memorial Stadium Complex in a PSAC Central doubleheader.  The Golden Eagles (4-23, 1-9 PSAC Central) will return to action tomorrow with a doubleheader against Millersville.
 
Game 1
Macy Rubin (1-6) took the hard-luck loss in the opening game against the Crimson Hawks, allowing two runs and three hits in the first inning but then limiting IUP to just two hits the rest of the way.  She struck out three Crimson Hawks and kept the Golden Eagles in the hunt throughout the rest of the game with six straight shutout innings.
 
IUP scored twice in the top of the first inning, with Kaitlyn Beers driving an RBI double to right-center and then coming home herself on a groundout by Renee Wall.  Rubin stymied them the rest of the way, though, frustrating the Crimson Hawks through the final six innings.
 
Clarion had a chance to get on the board in the third inning after a leadoff walk from Aryn Boyer.  Rubin and Taylor Nonnenberg both bunted Boyer ahead, but Natalie Else popped out to strand her on third base.  Rebecca Kelley was the last Clarion player to reach scoring position when she hit a two-out double in the fourth inning, but Cassie Daniels grounded out to end that threat as well.
 
Game 2
IUP jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, scoring all three against starter Sarah Gossard (2-9).  The Golden Eagles fought back and made two of those runs up in the home half of the frame when Jessica Cartia lined a double to left-center field, plating Nonnenberg and Moriah Lynn. 
 
The Crimson Hawks built the lead up to 8-2 but Kelley entered in relief and settled things down, throwing 3.0 innings of one-run ball to keep the Golden Eagles within striking distance.  Cartia, who finished 3-for-3 with two RBI's, got things going with another double down the left field line in the sixth inning, but Cassidy Runyan and Else were both retired to end the threat.