DUBOIS, Pa. — Clarion (13-14, 6-5) secured a dramatic 18–17 victory over Fairmont State (14-15, 8-8) in a high-scoring contest at Showers Field on Wednesday. The Golden Eagles erased a seven-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving them a dramatic victory in a marathon, high-scoring contest.
Trailing 17-10 entering the final half-inning of competition, Clarion staged a dramatic comeback.
Wyatt Fether led off with a solo home run to kick off the scoring, and then a combination of errors, hits, and walks allowed the Golden Eagles to claw back into the proceedings. Zach Colangelo and
Randy Carlo hit back-to-back RBI singles to cut the deficit to 17-14, and two batters later
Derek Smail drew a walk to load the bases.
From there wildness struck the FSU pitchers, with three consecutive bases loaded walks drawing the Golden Eagles even. The decisive moment came with the next batter, when Colangelo - the 12th batter of the inning - was hit by a 3-2 pitch to score
Jacob Patterson to clinch the win.
The Falcons opened the scoring in the first inning with an unearned run after Cam Cole singled and advanced on an error, pushing the Falcons to a 1–0 lead. Clarion responded assertively in the bottom of the second inning.
Ethan Giangiulio started with a single, followed by
Derek Smail's single, setting the stage for
Jacob Patterson's three-run homer over the fence in left center. Additional hits and a wild pitch further expanded the Golden Eagles' lead to 6–1 by the end of the second inning.
Clarion added two more runs in the fourth inning.
Ethan McNally contributed a solo home run, and
Randy Carlo's double brought
Tyson Gill home, extending their lead to 8–3 after four innings.
The Falcons rebounded in the sixth inning with a significant offensive push, scoring eight runs, including a grand slam by Cameron Moore, which shifted the lead to 11–8 in Fairmont State's favor. The Golden Eagles narrowed the gap in their half of the sixth, with Colangelo and Smail driving in runs to make it 11–10.
In the eighth inning, FSU extended its lead to 17–10 with a three-run homer by Reilly Bubb. Clarion managed to add one run in the bottom of the eighth, closing the inning with a 17–11 score.
Carlo made a significant impact by scoring three runs, collecting three hits, and driving in three RBIs. With 46 RBIs on the season, he is now just one shy of the program's single-season record. Patterson also contributed notably by scoring two runs, recording two hits, and driving in five RBIs, including hitting one home run. Colangelo added to the team's success with two runs scored, three hits, and two RBIs, along with one double and one stolen base.
Ethan McNally supported the team's efforts by scoring two runs, tallying three hits, and hitting one home run.
