CLARION, Pa. --- The Golden Eagle softball team dropped one close contest but went on to win another on their Senior Day on Saturday, with Clarion splitting a home doubleheader against Edinboro at Memorial Stadium. The Fighting Scots won the first game by a 1-0 score but the Golden Eagles countered with a 4-1 win in the nightcap.
 
With the win, Clarion improved to 16 wins on the season. That stands as the most wins in a single season since the Golden Eagles posted 16 victories in the 2003 season.
 
Edinboro 1, Clarion 0
Recap: The only run of the game came in the very first half inning, as Edinboro's Antonia Schaefer led off with a single and promptly stole two bases. She came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Cheyenne Shughart to deep center field, giving the Fighting Scots a 1-0 lead.
 
That would be the only blemish on the ledger for starting pitcher Emma Hipps, who held Edinboro without a hit for the remainder of the game. The only other baserunner for the Fighting Scots was Mackenzie Quider, who reached on an error with two outs in the top of the fourth inning.
 
Clarion stranded 10 baserunners over the course of the game, including runners in scoring position in a number of those innings. Notably, Carissa Giordano and Kathryn O'Horo reached to lead off the first inning and advanced to second on third on a sacrifice bunt only to be left there with back-to-back strikeouts.
 
The best opportunity for the Golden Eagles came in the bottom of the sixth inning, after Rachel Helsley and Allison Gilliam led off with back-to-back singles. Gilliam got to third on a one-out fielder's choice that put runners on the corners, but Giordano was retired on a close groundout to second base that ended the inning.
 
The Golden Eagles sprinkled six hits and four walks throughout the game, with Helsley and Gilliam each reaching base twice.
 
Clarion 4, Edinboro 1
Recap: The second game of the day was another pitcher's duel for the most part, as starters Kendyl Switzer and Lauren Bush traded zeroes for the first two innings. Each side scored a run in the third inning, starting with Morgan Spitler's RBI single to score Stephanie Krick in the top of the frame.
 
Clarion countered in the bottom of the third, with much of the damage coming with two outs. Annika Smith singled to lead off the inning but the Golden Eagles quickly found themselves with two outs and the runner on first. Tori Martrano drew a walk to bump her up a spot and Emily Buchleitner brought her home, lining a single down the third base line to make it 1-1.
 
That tie held into the bottom of the fifth inning, when the Golden Eagles took advantage of an Edinboro error to take the lead. Smith again led off the inning with a single, but this time she advanced to third base on a single from O'Horo to put runners on the corners. With two outs, Buchleitner hit a sharp ball to second base that was bobbled, allowing her to reach and Smith to cross the plate for an unearned run.
 
That turned the lead over to pitcher Ashley DeWeese, who entered in relief in the fifth inning. DeWeese put up three consecutive zeroes to make that lead stand up, though the Golden Eagles tacked on two more runs in the sixth inning for insurance. Brooke McCanna hit a sacrifice fly to deep center field to score Rachel Helsley, and with the bases loaded Chloe Saylor was hit by a pitch to score Amber Gilliam.
 
Switzer got the no-decision after allowing one run in 4.1 innings. DeWeese followed up with 2.2 shutout innings of relief to pick up the win. Smith finished the game 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored.
 
 
 
 
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