GLENVILLE, WV - A dramatic four-run rally in the top of the eighth inning propelled the Clarion University baseball team to a wild 6-5 victory over Fairmont State Thursday afternoon.
 
The Fighting Falcons jumped out to an early 2-0 lead off of a two run blast from Tyler Skidmore to right field, but Clarion would pull back within one in the top of the fourth after catcher Thomas Lavin's double scored Brian Casper.
 
Fairmont State put up three more runs in the bottom of the fifth off of back to back singles before Tiler Sadowski would get the Golden Eagles out of the inning.
 
Clarion was held scoreless until the eighth inning when they exploded for four runs tying the ball game at five. After a single from Alex Ficorilli, a Bryce Jackson walk and a Casper single to third base, that left the bases loaded for Lavin and he would make it count. Ripping a double through the left side Lavin drove in Jackson and Ficorilli pulling the Blue and Gold within just two runs.
 
Coming to the plate in a pinch hit situation, Cole Shaffer roped a double to right field and cleared the bases, driving in Casper and Lavin tying the game at 5. The game would remain deadlocked at the end of nine, but it only took one extra inning for the Golden Eagles to take the lead for good.
 
After a Chandler Palyas walk and Dan Janoson reached on a throwing error from the shortstop allowing Palyas to advance to third, left fielder Nick Fugh would prove clutch for Clarion. Fugh singled to left field scoring Palyas putting the Golden Eagles on top 6-5.
 
When asked about his team's gritty performance head coach Anthony Williams said, "It was an outstanding team victory. We knew winning wouldn't come easy, but we stuck with the plan and battler our way back . Very proud of the entire team. We got a big pinch hit double by Shaffer to tie the game and got five shutout innings from the bullpen and Fugh gets the big hit in the end after a rough day at the plate. Can't wait to go out and compete with this group again tomorrow."
 
Right handed reliever Dereck Pritchard (3-0) was credited with win after throwing 2.1 innings, punching out five Fairmont batters and walking just two, while surrendering just two hits. 
 
Nate Torbich started on the mound, throwing 4.2 innings, surrendering just six hits and five earned runs, while fanning four Falcon batters.
 
Clarion will be back in action tomorrow with a 7:15 pm single nine-inning game against Concord.