ERIE, Pa. — The Golden Eagles (7-11, 1-3) faced off against Gannon (6-8, 1-1) in a PSAC West doubleheader on Saturday, splitting with the Golden Knights at McConnell Family Stadium. Clarion dropped the first game 10-4 before holding on for a 4-3 win in the nightcap.
Game 1: Gannon 10, Clarion 4
The Golden Knights' fourth inning was the turning point against Clarion. It started with a pinch-runner scoring on a wild pitch following a single and an error. Emma Smerick's walk loaded the bases, setting up Jenna Clontz for a crucial three-RBI triple to left center. Clontz then crossed the plate on a single, capping a five-run rally that put Gannon firmly in control.
Clarion fought hard to mount a comeback, led by standout performances from
Sabi Medrano and
Delanie Davison. Medrano's RBI double in the first inning and RBI single in the fifth showcased the Golden Eagles' determination to close the gap. In the sixth, Davison doubled and later scored on Sophie Petrash's productive groundout, chipping away at the Golden Knights' lead. Despite their efforts, the Golden Eagles couldn't overcome the deficit.
Medrano led Clarion with three hits, including a double, and drove in two runs.
Brooke Dobson scored twice, adding a hit and a walk. Davison contributed two hits, one of which was a double, and scored a run.
Alexis Valencia chipped in with a hit and an assist from center field.
Game 2: Clarion 4, Gannon 3
In the second game, the Golden Eagles edged out a tight 4-3 win over Gannon. Clarion took advantage of Gannon's trio of fielding errors, notching two crucial runs in the third inning.
The Golden Eagles jumped out to an early lead with clutch hitting and by capitalizing on Gannon's defensive missteps. In the first inning,
Alexis Valencia crossed the plate on a fielding error, setting a strong pace. The action continued in the third inning when Valencia scored again after stealing third and coming home on
Sabi Medrano's single.
Delanie Davison then hammered an RBI double, pushing the Golden Eagles to a 3-0 lead.
Despite a solid start, Clarion's bats cooled off in the later innings, leaving runners stranded in scoring positions, notably with bases loaded in the fifth. This opened the door for the Golden Knights to chip away at the lead, eventually catching up in the final inning.
In the circle,
Emma Hipps threw a complete game, pitching 7.0 innings while allowing three runs on three hits. She struck out three, issued two walks, and hit a batter, controlling the game's tempo. Despite surrendering a home run and two doubles, Hipps secured her first win of the season, improving to 1-4.
Valencia was a standout, scoring twice, collecting two hits, and swiping a base for the Golden Eagles.
Sabi Medrano chipped in with two hits and an RBI.
Delanie Davison added two hits, including a double, and drove in a run, further strengthening Clarion's attack.
