CARY, NC - Opening day two of action at the USA Baseball Complex for Spring Break, the Clarion baseball team faced off against two tough opponents Saturday afternoon. They opened the afternoon against Molloy picking up a walk off victory 5-4 in the bottom of the ninth.  In the nightcap, the Golden Eagles fell to Walsh by a final score of 15-5.
 
Game one was one like any other as the Golden Eagles found themselves trailing in the early innings and having to battle back. Clarion trailed by one heading into the top of the fourth but Molloy scored three runs on four hits to put the Blue and Gold into a deep hole 4-0.
 
Clarion used the late innings to chip away at the Lion lead never losing any more ground and forging on. The Golden Eagles started chipping into the lead when they scored one run in the bottom of the fourth inning on a Matt Privette single that scored Nick Fugh who reached on a fielder's choice an at bat prior, making the score 4-1.
 
Keeping the Molloy attack at bay, the Golden Eagles scored two runs on one hit and one error in the bottom of the sixth. Will Constantin got the scoring started when he drew a walk with the bases loaded scoring Thomas Lavin who doubled earlier in the inning. Cole Shaffer kept the scoring rolling with a walk of his own that plated Alex Ficorilli who reached on a throwing error.
 
Trailing 4-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth Clarion would not go away without a fight. Constantin walked to lead off the inning and advanced to third on a failed pick-off attempt, scoring on a Shaffer single to left field to tie the game at four all.
 
As Clarion continued to put runners on base, Danny Fox reached base on a fielder's choice and Chandler Palyas walked, the Golden Eagles forced the Lions to go to the bullpen and make a pitching change.
 
Facing a new pitcher, Ben Barth was hit by a pitch to load the bases with just one out putting Clarion in full control to win the game.
 
Lavin who was successful at the plate all afternoon, was the perfect player to have at the plate with the game on the line and Lavin came up clutch, roping a 2-2 fastball to center field scoring Tim Irons who pinch ran for Fox after his at bat, winning the game for Clarion.
 
Kyle Thompson got the nod for Clarion on the mound, tossing 4.1 innings allowing eight hits and four runs while striking out four. Nate Torbich slammed the door on the Lion attack, throwing 4.2 innings of two hit baseball, allowing no runs and fanning four.
 
Lavin paced the Golden Eagle offense, going three for five with one RBI. Shaffer also had a great day for Clarion knocking in two runs on one hit.
 
In game two it was the complete opposite of game one as the Clarion defense and pitching was unable to slow down the Cavalier attack. Walsh racked up 15 runs on 13 hits compared to Clarion's 5 runs on 12 hits.
 
Dereck Pritchard got the start on the mound for Clarion tossing 6.0 innings allowing four runs on six hits, striking out five batters
 
The Golden Eagles scored five runs throughout the first eight innings as Chandler Palyas and Christian Kubacka paced the Clarion attack, each going 2 for 4. Palyas accounted for half of the Clarion offense driving in two runs. Nick Fugh and Will Constantin drove in the other two runs for Clarion in the night cap.
 
Anthony Tucci found himself in relief tossing one inning allowing two runs on three hits, striking out two. Ben Mongelluzzo and Ethan Smith closed out the game for the Golden Eagles from the bullpen tossing a combined 19 batters, striking out three and allowing nine runs.
 
Clarion moves to 3-11 on the year as they look to close out the D-II Challenge vs Cancer tomorrow against the College of Saint Rose at 9 am.