PEMBROKE, N.C. - The Clarion baseball team traveled south to North Carolina, Friday afternoon taking on UNC Pembroke on a single nine inning game and after the final out the Golden Eagles fell by a final score of 20-6. Clarion (0-7) will look to bounce back tomorrow when they close the weekend stint in North Carolina with a double header against the Braves.Â
UNC Pembroke 20, Clarion 6
Recap: Clarion scored five of their six total runs in the top of the ninth inning, picking up five hits throughout the contest. UNC Pembroke's Trystan Kimmel tossed a gem allowing just two hits through seven innings of action, and not allowing a hit to the Golden Eagles until midway through the fifth inning of action. The Braves' ace finished the afternoon with 11 strikeouts and just two walks.Â
UNC Pembroke scored 10 runs throughout the first three innings, but Clarion managed to break into the scoring column in the fifth inning, plating one run to make the deficit 10-1.
Lenny Piccini double off of the left field wall to start the inning and after
Kasey Shughart singled to first base allowing Piccini to advance to third,
Daren Byers singled to right field on a 1-0 fastball to score Piccini from third base.
Scott McManamon reached on the next at bat on a fielding error by the Braves' third baseman, putting runners on first and second base, and after a passed ball, the Golden Eagles were in a great spot, with two runners in scoring position.Â
With two runs threatening, Kimmel was able to work himself out of the two out jam, picking up a groundout to end the inning and the Clarion threat.Â
UNC Pembroke plated six runs in the seventh and four runs in the eighth to stretch their lead to 20-1, but Clarion answered the call in the top of the last frame.Â
Tim Irons started the inning with a six pitch walk and
Tyler Meachum followed that up with a double to left field putting two ducks on the pond for Clarion in the early part of the inning. Irons scored and Meachum advanced to third on a wild pitch to make the score 20-2, following suit,
Nate Petke singled to left field scoring Meachum as the Clarion offense started to come alive.
Petke advanced to second on a past ball, and after a pair of walks from
Emerson Abromavage and Brett Walker, Clarion loaded the bases with just one out in the inning threatening the Pembroke lead. Another wild pitch allowed the runners to all advance their respected 90 feet and Clarion was rolling in the inning with the score 20-4.
After a McManamon walk,
Caden Contant singled to left field driving in two Golden Eagles making the score 20-6.Â
Batting around in the frame, Irons was hit by a pitch to reload the bases for the third time in the inning, but a strikeout ended any chance of a comeback thought for Clarion.Â
Trevor McGee got the start on the mound for Clarion, tossing 3.0 innings, allowing 10 runs on six hits, while striking out one and walking five Braves batters. As a unit the Golden Eagles pitchers, totaled five strikeouts on the afternoon, while surrendering 14 hits.Â
At the plate for Clarion, Contant led the way, driving in two RBI's, while Petke and Byers each picked up an RBI a piece.Â
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