SLIPPERY ROCK , Pa. - The Clarion baseball team concluded a four game PSAC West conference series against "The Rock" of Slippery Rock, Saturday afternoon, falling by a score of 4-2 in the early game and a score of 16-5 in the nightcap. 

Clarion (10-27) will look to get back into the win column when they play host to Penn State Dubois on Tuesday, April 26, with a 7 pm start time at Showers Field where Clarion will be the designated home team. 

Game 1: Slippery Rock 4, Clarion 2
Recap: Clarion scored 2 runs on five hits and one Slippery Rock error, but the hosting "Rock" used five hits and two Clarion miscues to plate four runs in two innings to grab the victory. 

Clarion fell behind in the bottom of the third inning after Slippery Rock plated two runs using a double and a single to drive in the opening scores and take the 2-0 advantage. 

The Golden Eagles struck back quickly though, with one run of their own in the top of the fourth inning. Caden Contant led the inning off with a single and Danny Fox followed that up with a single of his own to right field to put two baserunners on for the Blue and Gold. 

After Contant stole third base, Griffin Snyder reached on a throwing error by the SRU pitcher, allowing Contant to score from third base, making the score 2-1. 

Looking to put the game out of reach, SRU scored two more runs in the bottom of the fourth to extend their lead to 4-1. 

As Ricky Mineo held Clarion at bay, not allowing another hit until he was taken out of the ballgame, the Golden Eagles score one run off of the Slippery Rock pitching relief to make the score 4-2. 

Mason Kepler gave the Golden Eagles a chance in the top of the seventh inning, launching his second homerun of the year over the right field fence to give Clarion a fighting chance with the score now 4-2. After a Nate Petke single, Clarion was unable to create anymore offense as Petke was stranded at second base as the game came down to the final out. 

Logan Schlegel got the start on the mound for Clarion, tossing 6.0 innings of action, striking out four SRU batters.

Game 2: Slippery Rock 16, Clarion 5
Recap: Clarion jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning after a Kepler groundout scored Kasey Shughart who reached base safely to lead off the game. 

Slippery Rock answered almost immediately in the bottom half of the frame, using a two run homerun from Connor Hamilton to take the lead back. The long ball is all the jumstart the SRU attack needed, scoring five runs in the third inning and nine runs in the fourth inning to put the game out of reach. 

With the score 16-1, Clarion score one run in the sixth inning after a Shughart sac fly allowed Sam Economy to score who reached first base safely earlier in the inning. 

Trailing 16-2 heading into the top of the seventh inning, Clarion put the pressure on the lead, scoring three runs on two hits. 

After a lead off walk from Contant, Brett Pitzer was hit by a pitch and advanced to second base after Snyder was also beamed by a pitch to load the bases. 

Lenny Piccini singled down the right field line to score Contant from third as Clarion made the score 16-3. Petke grounded into a double play but Pitzer was able to score from third base as the Golden Eagles added one more run to make the score 16-4.

Clarion added one more run after a Brandon Walked triple to right center field allowed Snyder to score from third to make the score its ultimate decision 16-5. 

Bryan Layton got the nod on the mound for Clarion, tossing just . 2 innings of baseball, allowing two runs on one hit and one walk. Reilly Shafer saw time in relief throwing the majority of the innings for Clarion, allowing nine runs on eight hits in 2.1 innings of work.  Read Full Article