CLARION, Pa. - Looking to even the series in games three and four, the Clarion baseball team split a doubleheader Saturday afternoon against Gannon by scores of 9-8 and 3-6 at Memorial Stadium. The win and loss moves the Golden Eagles to 4-13 on the year overall and 2-6 in the PSAC West. Gannon improves to 9-9 overall and 7-5 in the PSAC West.

Clarion found themselves on the winning end of an error riddled first game, nudging out the victory 9-8 in the bottom of the sixth inning. 

The Golden Knights struck first with one run in the top of the first inning after a walk and an error allowed Gannon to score a run making it 1-0.

With the lead stagnant at 1-0 through the first inning, Clarion exploded for seven runs on five hits and three errors in the bottom of the second to take a commanding 7-1 lead. After Nick Fugh started the inning with a single, Daren Byers doubled to right field and Fugh scored after a Kasey Shughart grounder was deep enough in the hole to plate the tying run. 

After Scott McManamon singled to left field the next at bat scoring Byers giving Clarion the 2-1 lead and Lenny Piccini reached on an error by the third basemen, Will Constantin reached on yet again another error by the Gannon third basemen, allowing Piccini and McManamon to score giving Clarion the 4-1 lead. 

Keeping the bats hot, Thomas Lavin singled, driving in Ficorilli who reached on a throw that pulled the foot of the first basemen just one batter earlier pushing the lead to 5-1. Fugh who led the inning off roped a double to left center field driving the last two runs of the inning and giving Clarion the 7-1 advantage.

It wasn't until the top of the fourth inning when Gannon scored six runs on five hits and four errors tying the game, that Clarion felt the momentum shift for the first time. 
 
Using that momentum, Gannon plated one run in the fifth after a passed ball allowed the runner to score from third putting the Golden Knights back in command at 8-7.

In the bottom of the sixth Clarion was able to gain traction and plate the two runs of the game that counted most. After a Piccini double, Timmy Irons reached on a field's choice and stole second to put a runner in scoring position. After a Constantin walk, Ficorilli proved clutch like he has all season long, launching a ball to right field that gave the Gannon defender trouble, as the wind changed the trajectory of the ball in Ficorilli's favor allowing both runs to come around and score giving Clarion the 9-8 lead. 

Ben Mongolluzzo shut the door on any come back hope the Golden Knights had as he sent the Golden Knights down in order 1-2-3 to end the game.

Mongolluzzo picked up the vivtory for Clarion, tossing 3.1 innings of one run baseball, allowing just three hits while fanning two Gannon hitters.

Fugh and Ficorilli paced the Clarion attack both picking up two RBI's on the afternoon. 

In game two it was a much different story as Gannon grabbed the lead early and never looked back scoring four of their six runs throughout the first three innings of action. 

The blue and gold picked up one run in the bottom of the second after a Daren Byers single up the middle scored Dan Fox from second. Clarion would be held scoreless until the bottom of the sixth when again it was Byers singling to right center field driving in Shughart. 

Irons singled the next at bat driving in Fox making the score 6-3 but the Golden Eagles would get no closer as Clarion stranded two base runners in the closing frame to fall by the final score of 6-3.

Byers paced the offense in game two driving two runs, going 2 for 3 on the afternoon.

Clarion will have a quick turnaround as they look to take on PSAC West powerhouse Seton Hill on Tuesday, April 13. First pitch is slated for 1 pm from Memorial Stadium.