GLENVILLE, W.Va. --- The Golden Eagles baseball team kicked off their 2025 season on the road on Thursday, opening a three-game series against Glenville State with a 7-3 loss. Clarion briefly held the lead over the Pioneers, but Glenville State scored six unanswered from the sixth inning on in the nine-inning contest.
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Taking the field for the first time this season, the Golden Eagles enjoyed early success against the Pioneers, limiting them to one run and two hits through the first five innings. Starter
Will Dean made his first appearance in the Blue & Gold, working his way through the Glenville State lineup, limiting the damage of a third-inning jam and keeping the Pioneers to one run in that frame.
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A handful of new Golden Eagles made their presence felt in the top of the fourth, combining for the first runs of the game for Clarion.
Randy Carlo reached on a one-out error, and made his way to third base when
Jack Hurda roped a double down the left field line to put runners in scoring position.
Brody Hinkle sliced a line drive to right center, pushing it past the diving center fielder and bringing the pair to make it 2-1.
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Clarion added on to that lead in the top of the fifth inning, tacking one on with a two-out rally.
Cole Yeager hit a single to center field with two outs and then came around to score on
Ethan Giangiulio's double to the gap in left center, putting Clarion ahead 3-1. Dean threw a perfect fifth to keep up the momentum, but Zac Bayor's solo home run with one out in the bottom of the sixth gave the Pioneers new life. They scored three runs in that frame, with Colby Guy and Luke Sweigar driving in runners to make it 4-3. Guy and Lance Minson hit back-to-back RBI singles in the bottom of the seventh inning off reliever
Aiden Hartle to make it a 7-3 game.
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The Golden Eagles' best opportunity at a rally came in the eighth inning when they got two men aboard, but they were unable to capitalize. Carlo hit a one-out single and advanced to second on a passed ball, followed by a walk drawn by Hinkle.
Caden Contant flew out to right to end the threat.
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