ERIE, Pa. --- The Golden Eagle softball team played their penultimate doubleheader of the season on Thursday afternoon, dropping a pair of games to Mercyhurst in PSAC West play. Clarion lost a 1-0 decision in the early game, and the Lakers took the second game 8-0 in five innings.
 
Mercyhurst 1, Clarion 0
Recap: It was a hard-luck result for the Golden Eagles in the first game, as starting pitcher Emma Hipps restricted the top offense in the PSAC to just one run and five hits over the course of seven innings. Unfortunately for Clarion, Mercyhurst's Mikaela Schramski was just a touch better, shutting out the Golden Eagles by scattering seven hits and not issuing any walks.
 
The only run of the game for either side came in the fourth inning, when Eliza Reynolds led off the bottom of the frame with a double. Cheynne Hindman sacrificed her over to third base and Jessica Clark scored her from there, hitting a grounder to shortstop that allowed Reynolds to cross the plate.
 
Clarion had opportunities in the sixth and seventh innings to even things up, but could not plate runners in scoring position in either scenario. In the top of the sixth, Carissa Giordano led off with a single and stole second base with two outs. Rachel Helsley was retired to end the inning on a fly to deep left field. In the top of the seventh, Tori Martrano hit a one-out single, and Brooke McCanna lifted a two-out single to left field to put two runners on with two outs. Kathryn O'Horo grounded out to end the inning.
 
McCanna wrapped up her day going 3-for-3 at the dish, making her the only player on either team to record multiple hits in the first game. Hipps, meanwhile, allowed only five hits and walked one in six innings of work, needing just 71 pitches to go through the Laker lineup.
 
Mercyhurst 8, Clarion 0 (5 inn.)
Recap: The second game, comparatively, was more lopsided in favor of the Lakers, who took an early lead and then built on that later on to lock up a five-inning win. Allison Dejidas and Eliza Reynolds drove in a pair of runs in the first inning to built a 2-0 lead, and Marisa Cartellone led off the second inning with a solo home run to take a 3-0 advantage.
 
The Golden Eagles put some pressure on the Lakers in the third inning, after O'Horo reached on a two-out walk and advanced to second on a passed ball. Giordano drew a walk as well, but Alyssa Stitt grounded out to shortstop to end the threat.
 
Mercyhurst went off for five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, giving themselves an 8-0 lead heading into the final frame. Clarion worked to try and extend the contest, with Amber Gilliam leading off with a single and Giordano drawing a two-out walk. Starter Morgan Hilty induced a flyout to end the game.
 
The Golden Eagles recorded just three hits, with Emily Buchleitner and Helsley joining Gilliam in reaching base on a hit. Giordano drew two walks. In the pitching circle, Megan Anderson allowed three runs in the first inning, while Angelina Pepe finished the game with three innings of relief.
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