BARTOW, Fla. — The Golden Eagles (6-6) soared through a pair of thrilling games on Thursday, first dominating Lake Erie (0-7) with a commanding 9–1 six-inning victory and then edging out Point Park (2-8) in a nail-biting 9-8 contest.
Clarion 9, Lake Erie 1 (6 inn.)
In the opener against Lake Erie, the Golden Eagles showcased their offensive prowess, amassing six stolen bases and eight hits to secure the win in six innings. Clarion set the tone early, capitalizing on defensive lapses to jump to a 2–0 lead in the first inning.
Alexis Valencia walked, paving the way for
Jordy Best's RBI walk with the bases loaded. The pivotal sixth inning saw Clarion score four crucial runs, thanks to Sophie Petrash's single and aggressive baserunning from Valencia, which forced errors from the Storm's defense. Valencia and
Brooke Dobson crossed home plate, aided by
Sabi Medrano's sacrifice fly that brought in two runs.
Rian Reed was exceptional in the circle, allowing just three hits over six innings, striking out six batters and walking three. Reed's strong performance boosted her record to 4-1, as she effectively shut down Lake Erie's opportunities with seven flyouts and three groundouts.
Key players for the Golden Eagles included Valencia, who made a significant impact with two runs and two stolen bases, while Dobson contributed with two hits and two stolen bases.
Sami Springman also added two runs and a stolen base, maintaining pressure on the Storm's defense.
Clarion 9, Point Park 8
In the second game against Point Park, the Golden Eagles clawed their way to victory, highlighted by a pivotal four-run burst in the fourth inning. They capitalized on Point Park's defensive errors, scoring early with Valencia reaching base on an error and later scoring on Medrano's sacrifice fly. Dobson also benefited from a throwing error, extending the lead to 2-0.
Momentum built with
Jordy Best and
Amber Gilliam each recording RBI doubles in the third inning, with Gilliam's shot scoring two runs. The fourth inning saw Best pull a two-run double down the left field line, making it 7-2, while Gilliam added to the tally with a hard single that plated two more runners.
However, Point Park made it a nail-biter in the fifth, scoring six runs to tighten the contest to 9-8.
Emma Hipps entered in relief, providing two innings of two-hit, shutout pitching to secure the win despite two inherited runners scoring.
Ainsley Perdicaris pitched 4 2/3 innings, giving up 10 hits and three earned runs.
Brooke Dobson was a standout performer, scoring three runs and swiping three bases, while
Jordy Best contributed with two hits, including a double, and drove in three runs.
Amber Gilliam had a standout day with three hits and four RBIs, further solidifying the Golden Eagles' offensive display.
