CLARION, Pa. - Playing at their home field for the first time all season long, the Clarion baseball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader to the visiting Cal U Vulcans, losing game one by a score of 6-2 and game two by a final score of 4-1.
Clarion (10-32) will look to bounce back against the IUP Crimson Hawks on Friday, May 6 when they travel to Indiana for a PSAC West doubleheader.
Game 1: Cal U 6, Clarion 2
Recap: Clarion picked up two runs on seven hits using a two run homerun from
Tim Irons to score both of their runs.
Cal U plated six runs on eight hits and one Clarion error picking up four runs in the top of the seventh inning to take control of the game. Cal U scored in the top of the third after a single through the right side allowed the runner to score from third making the score 1-0.
Starting pitcher
Logan Schlegel worked out of a bases loaded jam to limit Cal U to just one run, as the Vulcans scored another run, using two hits to score one run in the top of the fourth inning to make the score 2-0.
Clarion responded in the bottom of the fourth inning with runs of their own, scoring two runs on one swing of the bat from Irons.
Daren Byers led the inning off with a single to right field and advanced to second base after a
Lenny Piccini groundout to the pitcher. With Byers on second base, Irons homered to the deepest part of Memorial Field, taking an 0-2 fastball to center field for 2 RBI's.
With the score deadlocked at 2-2, Schlegel limited the Vulcans to just one hit through he next two innings before exiting the game.
In the top of the seventh inning, Cal U scored four runs on three hits and one Clarion error to take a commanding 6-2 lead. Clarion threatened the Cal U lead in the bottom half of the inning, but stranded two runners before they could score.
Griffin Snyder singled to center field and advanced to second after a
Nate Petke single through the left side put two runners on base. Both runners advanced to second after a groundout, but after a strikeout and another groundout, Clarion was left scoreless and on the wrong end of the outcome.
Schlegel got the nod for the Golden Eagles, tossing 6.0 innings, allowing just two runs on five hits, striking out eight and walking five batters.
Byers was the loan Golden Eagle to pick up multiple hits in the game, going two for three at the plate.
Game 2: Cal U 4, Clarion 1
Recap: Clarion took the lead early in the bottom of the first inning, scoring one run after Byers singled to score
Matt Privette. Clarion started the inning with a walk from Privette and after stealing his 17 base of the season, Privette was in scoring position at second base. Byers singled and advanced to second base after Privette forced the throw home as the Blue and Gold took the 1-0 lead.
Cal U tied the game in the top of the third inning after two hits and an error allowed one run to cross the plate to make the score 1-1. The Vulcans added to their lead in the in top of the fifth inning, plating three runs on three hits and stranding one base runner.
Throughout the next three innings the Vulcan starting pitcher held the Clarion batters at bay, surrendering no hits through the next three innings.
Michael Proios got the start for head coach
Doc Neiman, tossing 4.2 innings, allowing four runs on six hitst, striking out two batters.
Reilly Shafer came in for relief for the Blue and Gold, finishing the game adding 2.1 innings to his stat line, surrendering just two hits, picking up two hits.
Byers swung the hot bat for the Clarion in game two, going two for three at the plate, driving in the loan Clarion run.
