MURFREESBORO, N.C. – Opening their 2019 season on the road against Chowan University, the Clarion baseball team split a pair of games Saturday, falling 3-1 in the early game to Chowan University before taking the nightcap by a 5-4 score in extra innings. 

Redshirt Sophomore Nick Fugh powered the offense on Satruday, including a sweltering 2-for-4 performance in the second game that included a RBI single in the sixth inning to put the Golden Eagles on the scoreboard. Dillon Wolbert provided several of the big highlights of the day, hitting a game-tying sac-fly in the second game scoring Fugh from third and doubling to left field in the eighth inning to seal the Clarion victory scoring Chandler Palyas. Wolbert was 1-for-3 on the day with two RBIs.
 
Kyle Thompson got the nod on the bump in game two giving up 3 runs in 4.0 innings of work, while striking out five Chowan batters. Dereck Pritchard (1-0) was the winning pitcher in the night cap after allowing just one run in 2.0 innings pitched. Josh Kirwin (0-1) took the loss in the first game, throwing 620 innings and allowing two runs.
 
The first game was a pitchers' duel, with neither team plating more than one runner in the first five combined innings. The Hawks struck first, scoring on an RBI double in the bottom of the first inning, but the Golden Eagles did not get on the board until the top of the third. Fugh singled to left scoring Matt Privette who reached on a field's choice then stole second base, moving into scoring position. Neither team added on until a Clarion throwing error in the bottom of the sixth scored a run making it 2-1, then a bases loaded walk scored the final run of the game. In the top of seventh Alex Ficorilli lead off with a walk, but the Golden Eagles were retired 1-2-3 to close out the game.
 
Clarion's bats exploded in the second game, though, as the Golden Eagles racked up five runs on six hits. They trailed throughout the entire game as Chowan scored three runs in the bottom of fourth. The Golden Eagles would get runs a plenty in the top of the sixth, starting with a Fugh single that scored Ben Barth from second base. Chandler Palyas made the game 3-2 on a sac bunt that scored Dan Janoson from third base. Brian Casper reached base on a fielding error putting runners on first and third. After Casper stole second base, Wolbert flied out to center field scoring Fugh from third and advancing Casper to third, tying the ballgame. Thomas Lavin singled to left field scoring Casper to give the Golden Eagles the lead before Cole Shaffer was thrown out trying to advance to second base after a single to right field. Clarion held the one run advantage all the way to the bottom of the seventh, when a two out singleg tied the ball game taking it to extra innings.
 
In extrasWolbert doubled to left field and scored Palyas who reached on a fielding error. Chowan would go down in order in the bottom of the eighth to end the ball game and give the Blue and Gold their first victory of the season. Clarion will be back in action tomorrow as the take on Chowan in a rubber match set to start at noon.