GREENSBURG, Pa. --- The Golden Eagle softball team started their second trip through the division on Tuesday afternoon, with Clarion falling in a pair of games to Seton Hill on the road. Clarion fell by a 5-1 score in the early game and by an 8-0 score in the late game, with the latter coming in five innings.
 
Game 1: Seton Hill 5, Clarion 1
Recap: The Griffins built their advantage in the first game primarily through a pair of home runs, starting with a two-run blast by Brooke Cleland in the first inning and a solo shot by Camryn Murphy in the sixth inning.
 
The Golden Eagles did pull closer in the top of the third inning, cutting the Seton Hill lead in half with a pair of doubles in the third inning. Brooke McCanna led off the frame with a double and was lifted for pinch runner Lauren Hartman. Alyssa Stitt – who on Saturday broke the program's single-season RBI record – drove her home with two outs, lifting a double to the gap in left-center field to make it a 2-1 game.
 
Clarion got no closer the rest of the way, though, as the Griffins' Lauren Dellett prevented any Clarion runners from advancing past second base until the top of the seventh inning. The Golden Eagles did get something going in that frame, with McCanna reaching on a single and Carissa Giordano adding another to put runners on first and second with two outs. Stitt hit a ground ball to third, with Seton Hill tagging the bag for the third and final out.
 
McCanna finished the game 3-for-3 at the plate with a double, while Giordano and Stitt also recorded hits. Starter Emma Hipps allowed five runs in six inning of action.
 
Game 2: Seton Hill 8, Clarion 0 (5 inn.)
Recap: The second game of the day was firmly in the control of the Griffins, who scored seven combined runs in the second and third innings to take a solid lead. That included a grand slam by Bre Athey in the third inning that turned it from a three-run deficit to a 7-0 game, putting Seton Hill in the driver's seat.
 
The Golden Eagles had opportunities with runners in scoring position, but in each instance Chloe Elliott was able to stymie them. Giordano led off the game with a single and advanced to second on Emily Buchleitner's infield single, but Desi Allen grounded out to end the threat. Giordano got into scoring position in the third inning as well, reaching when she was hit by a pitch, followed by a stolen base and a wild pitch. This time Buchleitner struck out, ending the threat with Clarion down 3-0.
 
The best opportunity of the day game in the top of the fifth inning, when Clarion loaded the bases. Kathryn O'Horo led off with a walk and Tori Martrano followed up with a two-out single. Buchleitner drew a base on balls to load the bases, but the Griffins induced a popup to end the game.
 
McCanna finished with a 2-for-2 performance at the plate, making her 5-for-5 over the course of both games. Read Full Article