CLARION, Pa. – Despite leading most of the second game, the Clarion baseball team dropped both games of a double header to Seton Hill, falling 5-3 in the early game, followed by a 5-2 loss in seven innings in the nightcap.
 
The losses drop Clarion to 11-12 overall and 2-2 in conference play, while Seton Hill improves to 10-10, 2-2 in the PSAC West.
 
Game 1
The visiting Griffins got on the board first in the top of the first inning thanks to a pair of infield singles, a walk, a sac fly and a wild pitch that plated two runners, making the score 3-0 early, The score would remain the same until the top of third when third basemen Tommy Pellis hit a homerun over the left field fence to put the Griffins up 4-0. Seton
Hill added a security run in the top of the sixth when a Ryan Grieco double scored one run putting Seton Hill in command 5-0.
 
The Golden Eagles went on a tear in the bottom of the sixth inning picking up three runs, threating the Seton Hill lead. Bryce Jackson got the inning started with a walk, then came around to score during the next at bat when Thomas Lavin singled to center field pulling Clarion within four runs. Lavin advanced to second on a passed ball a few pitches later putting himself in scoring position with just one out.

Alex Ficorilli continued his hot hitting stint, doubling to right field allowing Lavin to score from second to make the score 5-2. Tim Irons came to the plate after Ficorilli and made his at bat count, singling to right field, plating Ficorilli from second base to push the score to 5-3, but that is as close as the Blue and Gold would get as they were sent down in order in the bottom of the seventh innins.
 
Kyler Mellott took the loss for the Blue and Gold tossing six complete innings allowing seven hits and one walk, while crossing up seven Griffin batters.
 
Irons led the offense for the Golden Eagles going 2-for-3 at the plate and driving in one run.
 
Game 2
Unllike game one Clarion took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning and held that lead for most of the afternoon.

Left fielder Nick Fugh got the scoring started for the Blue and Gold, hitting a bomb over the left field fence for his first homerun of the season giving Clarion the early lead.
 
Starter Jeremy Frazier held the Griffins scoreless until the fifth inning when a sac fly to left field scored Chris Law from third to knot things up at one all. Frazier tossed 4.2 innings, allowing five hits and one walk, while fanning two Seton Hill batters.

Derrick Pritchard came in, in relief tossing 2.1 innings giving up just three hits and striking out three.

The score would remained tied until the bottom of the sixth inning when Ficorilli singled up the middle, a sac bunt from Jackson allowed him to advance to second and a groundout from Lavin let Ficorilli advance to third. Fugh came to the plate next already swinging a hot bat but that wouldn't matter, Ficorilli advanced and scored on a balk by the Seton Hill pitcher to give Clarion the commanding 2-1 lead. Fugh would single up the middle on the very next pitch but the inning would get ended when Irons flew out to left field.

Heading into the top of the seventh inning Clarion had Seton Hill on the ropes until two singles and a hit by pitch loaded the bases for the visiting Griffins. Tommy Pellis came to the plate with two outs in the inning but proved clutch launching a grand slam over the left center field fence for four runs, putting the Griffins ahead 5-2 and the game out of reach.
 
Fugh led the offensive attack going 2-for-3 with a homer, while four other players picked up hits for Clarion, but the Golden Eagles left four men on base and were unable to plate any runs in the bottom half of the seventh.
 
The Blue and Gold will be back in action next weekend when they head to Erie to take on the Gannon Golden Knights for a doubleheader starting at 1 pm.