GLENVILLE, WV - Closing out the weekend at day three of the PSAC / Mountain East Challenge, the Clarion baseball team fell to host Glenville State 5-2 on Sunday afternoon. Clarion falls to 1-9 overall on the young season, while Glenville State improves to 7-3.
 
Unlike most games this season Clarion wasn't the first team to take the lead early. The Pioneers scored first, picking up three runs in the bottom of the third after an error started the scoring.
 
Clarion starter Kyler Mellott  ended the inning with a strikeout but the damage was done as Glenville State picked up three runs on four hits and one error.
 
Clarion answered the call in the top of the fourth, scoring one run on a Thomas Lavin homer as he tried to spark the Golden Eagle offense. Trailing 3-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth, Glenville State added an insurance run with a homerun of their own off the bat of Ty Phillips.
 
Again like clockwork, the Golden Eagle offense struck back in the top of the sixth with one run of their own as Lavin again was the money man, doubling to center field, scoring Chandler Palyas from second who reached on an error and swiped a bag to lead off the inning.
 
Threatening down 4-2 heading into the bottom of the eighth, Clarion was once again plagued by the deep ball as Glenville State homered to right field building the lead to three at 5-2.
 
Unable to forge a comeback Clarion stranded two runners on base in the top of the ninth as they ultimately fell to the Pioneers 5-2.
 
Clarion picked up two runs on six hits, compared to Glenville State's five runs on 11 hits.
 
Mellott got the start for the Blue and Gold tossing six full innings, allowing eight hits and four runs while striking out five. Josh Kirwin and Kyle Thompson filled in, in relief each tossing a single inning. Kirwin allowed one hit, striking out one and Thompson allowed two hits and one run.
 
Lavin paced the offense going 2 for 4 on the afternoon driving in both the Clarion runs.
 
Playing five games in three days, Clarion will be back in action next weekend as they head to Cary, North Carolina to play in the D-II Challenge vs Cancer over spring break. The Golden Eagles will open the weekend with Fairmont State at 11:30 am and play in the night cap against New Haven  at 3:00 pm.