MURFREESBORO, N.C. – Closing out their first trip down south of the season, the Clarion baseball team dropped a 12-9 decision to Chowan University on Sunday afternoon at Hawkins Field.

The Hawks, who play in the CIAA, improved to a notable 4-2-1 on the early season while the Golden Eagles drop to 1-2 on the year.

The Golden Eagles  struck first in the top of the second off of a Dan Janoson double to left field that scored Cole Shaffer to give Clarion the early lead.

The Chowan bats would strike back in the bottom of the second as six runs would score in the long inning, making the score 6-1. The Hawks would plate two more runs in the bottom of the third, chasing Clarion starter Jeremy Frazier (0-1) from the ballgame.

The Golden Eagles slowly clawed away at the lead, when First baseman Bryce Jackson scoring one run in the top of the sixth when he doubled to left scoring Chandler Palyas from first. Chowan would score three more runs off of a three run blast in the bottom of the sixth, stretching the lead to 11-2.
 
The Golden Eagles bats would explode for six runs of their own in the top of the seventh inning. Freshman Tim Irons got the rally started, singling to left field and scoring Austin Blauser. Chandler Palyas would keep the runs flowing with a two RBI double down the left field line, plating Will Constantin and Irons making the score 11-5. Dillon Wolbert was nezt to come to the plate and make the best of the situation, singling through the left side of the infield scoring Palyas and Ben Barth from second and third making the score 11-7. Blauser singled back up the middle of the infield grabbing two RBI's of his own, scoring Alex Ficorilli and Jackson making the score 11-9, but that is where the rally would stop for the Blue and Gold
 
The Hawks would add one more in the bottom of the eighth inning to put it out of reach.

Clarion and Chowan each recorded double digit hits on the afternoon, however the Golden Eagles pitching staff surrendered four walks while their defense committed two errors.

Frazier suffers the loss, allowing seven earned run over two and a third innings of work.

The Golden Eagles will head to Williamston, N.C. for the Riverside Spring Classic on February 22^nd, where they will take on Lock Haven University and Millersville.