PEMBROKE, N.C. - The Clarion baseball team closed out their weekend series with UNC Pembroke on Sunday afternoon, falling by a final score 18-10 in a single nine inning game. Clarion (0-9) will travel back north on Wednesday to take on PSAC East opponent Millersville in a midweek doubleheader. 

UNC Pembroke 18, Clarion 10
Recap: The Golden Eagles jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning to take their first lead of the weekend. Tim Irons started the game being plunked by a fastball and after a Caden Contant walk in the very next at bat, Scott McManamon did his job at the plate, laying down a SAC bunt to advance both runners into scoring position. 

Daren Byers picked up the first RBI of the game when he grounded out to the second basemen, allowing Irons to advance 90 feet and score. 

UNC Pembroke answered in the bottom of the first with four runs of their own to take back the lead, 4-1, after a single to right field scored two of the four runs. The Braves added three runs in the bottom of the second to extend their lead to 7-1, but the Clarion offense would respond. 

The Golden Eagles managed to add two runs on two hits and one walk to make the 7-3 in favor of the Braves. Contant reached first base with a walk and later scored after McManamon launched a deep shot over the center field fence to touch them all and pick up two RBI's in the process. 

Clarion knocked on the door and threatened the UNC Pembroke lead in the top of the sixth inning making the score 7-5, scoring two more runs on yet again two more hits and a walk. 

Kasey Shughart led the inning off with a double to right field and after Lenny Piccini was hit by a pitch, Clarion had two runners on the base paths looking to capitalize. Sam Economy came up huge in in the very next at bat, doubling to right field scoring Shughart.  

After a Griffin Snyder walk, Irons reached base on a fielder's choice, scoring Tyler Meachum who pinch ran for the catcher Piccini, but after a strikeout Clarion trailed heading into the bottom of the sixth inning 7-5. 

UNC Pembroke exploded for six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning pulling ahead 13-5 and putting the lead almost out of reach for Clarion. The Braves added one more security run in the seventh making the score 14-5, but Clarion responded with three runs in the top of the eighth inning. 

Matt Privette singled up the middle to start the inning, and then stole second base to put a runner in scoring position for the Blue and Gold. After three back-to-back-to-back walks that allowed Privette to score, McManamon singled to right field scoring two runs for the Blue and Gold pushing the score to 14-8. 

Just like so many innings before, the Braves answered with another big inning of their own, scoring four runs of two hits to make the score 18-8 with just one frame left to play. 

Max Kepler reached base on a throwing error from the Pembroke shortstop and Economy made the mistake hurt, homering to right field to give Clarion life with the score 18-10, but that's all the closer Clarion would get after a pop out ended the game. 

McManamon and Economy paved the way for Clarion, as Mcmanamon finished the game with four RBI's, while Economy added three of his own. 

Bryce Grenet got the start for the Golden Eagles on the mound, tossing 5.0 innings of action, striking out one batter, while surrendering nine runs on nine hits and three walks. 


  Read Full Article