MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - Opening up the 2021 season on the road, the Clarion University baseball team dropped both games in double-header action against Millersville by scores of 18-5 and 8-3 on Saturday afternoon. The pair of losses moves the Golden Eagles to 0-2 (0-0 PSAC) on the season.  The Blue and Gold will return to action on Friday, March 12th when they head to Greensburg, Pa. to take on the Seton Hill Griffins. 

A staple in the Clarion lineup, Thomas Lavin put the blue and gold on top early in the top of the first just three batters into the ball game, launching a 3-2 fastball over the left field fence, putting the Golden Eagles ahead 1-0 early. 

Millersville answered in the bottom of the second inning, plating seven runs on the back of a grand slam by the Marauder cleanup catcher, Trainer, putting the black and gold ahead 7-1 in the early frames of the matchup. 

Keeping the game within reach, Lavin plated two more runs in the top of third making the score 7-3 after a Matt Privette hit by pitch and a Dan Byers walk. 

The score remained stagnant at 7-3 until the top of the fourth when the Golden Eagles struck for one more run. Will Constantin started the inning off with a double to left field and Scott McManamon followed that up with a walk to put runners on first and second. Tim Irons reached on an error by Millersville's second baseman which allowed Constantin to score all the way from second making the score 7-4. 

The Marauder's put the game out of reach for good in the bottom of the fifth, exploding for eight runs on six hits and only stranding one runner the entire inning. 

Clarion managed to score one more run in the top of the seventh, but the game was already out of reach. Privette started the inning with a hit by pitch and Alex Ficorilli reached base on a walk. After a passed ball, both runners advanced into scoring position and Nick Fugh singled to right center field to score Privette. 

Jeremy Frazier got the nod for Clarion in game one, tossing one and two third innings, allowing four hits, while striking out three. Derek Pritchard saw the majority of the action on the bump in relief throwing three whole innings, allowing eight hits, while fanning three Millersville batters.

The Marauders took game one on the backs of a big first inning, scoring 12 runs to open up a gap over the Golden Eagles.

Game two featured a change in pace from the high-scoring affairs of game one, with both teams locked in a good, old-fashioned pitcher's duel to start the game. 

Starter Bryan Layton was proficient, going 3.2 innings with five strikeouts, giving up just one walk and nine hits in the night cap. Heading into the sixth, Will Constantin led the inning off with a walk, but Clarion remained hitless until Alex Ficorilli singled to center field advancing Constantin to second.

Thomas Lavin singled down the left field line scoring Constantin putting Clarion on the scoreboard. Still trailing 8-1, Matt Privette walked to load the bases and Scott McManamon walked just four pitches later, plating Ficorilli making the score 8-2. 

With the bases loaded Kasey Shughart singled through the left side picking up his first collegiate RBI, plating Lavin putting Clarion within striking distance at 8-3. After a good battle at the plate, Millersville was able to close the frame with a Dan Byers strikeout to take the victory after the game was called in the sixth inning due to darkness. 

Kyle Thompson closed out the pitching for Clarion, tossing 1.1 innings allowing just one hit and striking out two.