4.29.10 / Sports
Senior outfielder and pitcher Erik Kempton eyes up the incoming pitch in a doubleheader against Mercyhurst on Saturday. (Neal Henry / The Clarion Call)
Clarion ended its 2010 campaign with an upsetting weekend series against the Mercyhurst Lakers. On Friday the Golden Eagles traveled to Merycyhurst for the first of four games to come.
The year long struggles for the Golden Eagles continued as they dropped game one of the doubleheader by a score of 17-3.
4.22.10 / Sports
Clarion infielders meets at the pitcher’s mound before the inning in the cold weather.
Last Friday the Clarion Golden Eagle’s softball team took on the defending national champions, Mansfield University.
In the first game, Clarion erupted for four runs in the third inning to jump out to a 4-0 lead.
Rebecca Lynch, Kacie Nemeth, Nicole Lollo, and Carlie Cook put Clarion up by four going into the fourth inning.
Clarion added two more runs in the fourth inning to increase their lead to 6-0. More »
4.22.10 / Sports
The Clarion University baseball team played a rare tripleheader this past Saturday at Lock Haven University.
On Friday afternoon, the two teams were scheduled to play a doubleheader at Clarion.
After a rain shortened game one on Friday that saw the Golden Eagles fall to Lock Haven 8-2 in six innings, the rain started to come down hard, forcing game two to be postponed.
In the first game of the tripleheader on Saturday, Clarion was the home team due to the makeup of the second game on Friday.
Being the home team didn’t help them that much as the fell to Lock Haven by a score of 13-2.
Eric Panko (0-5) continued his struggles by recording the loss.
Panko went 6.1 innings, while allowing nine runs (eight earned) on eight hits, and recording nine walks and six strikeouts.
Leading hitter for the Golden Eagles was Scott Berkes with a 2-4 day at the plate.
Sean Zimmerman and Ken Morgan recorded the only two RBI’s for Clarion.
Clarion was looking to put up more of a fight in the second game of the doubleheader.
Lock Haven got out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
Clarion pitcher Brandon Slater got off to a rough start as he let up a leadoff home run to Mark Strouse.
The Golden Eagles strike back quickly with two runs of their own in the top of the second.
Clarion took advantage of the Lock Haven pitcher struggling to find the strike zone.
Zimmerman led off the second inning with a walk. After a strikeout by Jason Krimsky, Morgan and Spencer White worked back to back walks to force the bases loaded.
Freshmen Jordan Labue reached on a fielder’s choice to third base, scoring Zimmerman to tie the game at 1-1.
With two outs in the inning, Chad white got another clutch hit with an RBI single, plating Spencer White for a 2-1 lead.
The threat would end soon after Labue would get caught stealing home.
With Slater settling in over the next few innings, Clarion was able to add onto their lead in the top of the fourth.
For the second time in the game, Zimmerman led off the inning reaching base, this time via a single.
Krimsky then followed with a walk.
Morgan followed with a single, loading the bases for the second time in the game.
After a pop out by Spencer White, Labue recorded his second RBI of the game, via another groundout to third base.
Clarion seemed to all but seal the victory, by tacking on three more runs in the sixth inning.
After the first two hitters were retired, Labue delivered again to start the rally with a double.
The next batter was Chad White who singled in Labue for his second RBI of the game.
The bases were loaded once again after Nate Weiss was hit by the pitch and Tom Briley walked.
With the bases loaded, the Golden Eagles received a break when Berkes was also hit by the pitch to bring in a run.
Clarion tacked on one more run via a wild pitch that scored Weiss to take a 6-1 lead.
With a good lead in tact, it was all up to the pitching to get the job done.
Slater hit a rough patch in the game, allowing seven runs in the bottom of the sixth to blow the game.
Clarion was not able to threaten in their last at bat to lose the game 8-6.
Slater (0-5) took the loss going 5.1 innings. Slater allowed seven runs (three earned) on seven hits, while recording four walks and seven strikeouts.
Chad White led the offense with a two hit game.
White and Labue also recorded two RBI’s each to lead the team.
Clarion was not able to rebound from the tough loss, as Lock Haven completed the sweep in the third game by a score of 14-3.
Clarion traveled to Seton Hill University yesterday for a non conference doubleheader.
The Golden Eagles woes continued as they lost both games, 6-2 and 4-3 respectively.
Kevin Gnacinski took the loss in game one for Clarion.
Gnacinski went 5.1 innings allowing five runs (two earned) on nine hits, while recording two walks and two strikeouts.
Five players on Clarion paced the offense with one hit each.
Clarion was looking for a split in game two of the doubleheader.
Berkes was pitching a gem through the first five innings, as Clarion held a 3-0 lead.
Everything fell apart in the sixth when Berkes surrendered four runs. Clarion failed to comeback in their last at bat.
4.15.10 / Sports
Clarion freshman shortstop Joey Harrison fields a ground ball in a doubleheader against IUP at Memorial Field as fans watch from behind the fence. (Caitlyn McGill / The Clarion Call)
Clarion was back in action for the third straight day on Monday against Mansfield University.
The Golden Eagles were coming off their first PSAC-West conference win of the season against Indiana University of Pennsylvania and were looking to continue their good fortune.
Mansfield arrived at Clarion’s Memorial Field and was ready to hit from the start. More »
4.15.10 / Sports
Freshman pitcher Erica Burkey gets ready to pitch while junior Nicole Lollo focuses in. (Caitlyn McGill / The Clarion Call)
The Clarion Lady Eagle softball team fell to Bloomsburg University on April 10 at Bloomsburg 1-8 and 5-12.
In the first game, Bloomsburg scored early, getting a 4-0 lead in the first inning.
In the top of the second, Clarion answered back with a run making the score 4-1.
Then, Bloomsburg ran in two more in the bottom of the second making it 6-1. In the bottom of the third, Bloomsburg ran in two more stretching out their lead to 8-1.
This was the last time either team scored. More »
4.15.10 / Sports
The men’s rugby team dominated Saturday afternoon with a 58-0 win over Duquesne, while the girls lost in a scrimmage against Rocky Grove.
The win for the men’s team improves their record to 4-1 on the season with three matches left. The girl’s team has a record of 2-4.
“We did a lot well. It was a full team effort and a good solid performance all around. Our defense was phenomenal,” said Jarrod Lovelace.
The men’s team routed Duquesne with 10 tries and four kicks in the match.
Each try is worth five points while kicks are worth two points, for a total of seven points when scoring. More »
4.15.10 / Photo Sets, Sports
(Justin Gmoser / The Clarion Call)
4.8.10 / Photo Sets, Sports
4.8.10 / Sports
Clarion University pitcher Eric Panco throws a pitch during this weekends double-header. (Caitlin McGill / The Clarion Call)
Clarion University recorded their first two home victories of the year, as they swept the double-header versus non conference opponent Washington Adventist, 6-3 and 10-5 respectively. More »
4.8.10 / Sports
Clarion University’s Women’s Tennis team was shut out by Slippery Rock University on Wednesday with a final score of 9-0.
In singles play, No. 1 Jaclyn Metzger fell to Laura Handy with a score of 6-1, 6-1. At No. 2 singles, Haylee Gardner fell to SRU’s Sarah Lynch with a score of 6-1, 6-1. Devin Rombach was defeated by Dunja Drmac at No. 3 singles with a score of 6-0, 6-0, while Megan Parsons fell to Chelsea Gibson with a score of 6-0, 6-1 at No. 4 singles. At No. 5 singles, Lauren Eonta fell to SRU’s Jessica Hilbron 6-1, 6-1, while Clarion’s Michaela hardy fell to Casey Runyan with a score of 6-0, 6-0.
In doubles action, the No. 1 team of Handy and Drmac defeated Clarion’s Metzger and Rombach with a score of 8-2. Clarion’s No. 2 doubles team of Gardner and Parsons were defeated by Gibson and Hilborn with a score of 8-3, while SRU’s Lynch and Krantz defeated Alysia Sturdivant and Michaela Hardy at No. 3 doubles with a score of 8-1.
Clarion returns to action on April 10, when the Golden Eagles travel to California University of Pennsylvania.
4.8.10 / Sports
You’ve never heard of Frankie Edgar? Hailing all the way from Toms River, N.J., Frankie “The-Answer” Edgar was a four-time national qualifying wrestler here at Clarion and graduated in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science.
Still not ringing a bell? It will come April 10.
Since graduating from Clarion, Edgar has made a name for himself beating up other grown men; legally.
Edgar is 11-1 and currently the No. 1 contender for the Lightweight championship in the biggest fighting league in the world.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship, or UFC for short, is the equivalent of the NFL for football.
Winning the lightweight belt in the UFC would be like winning the Super Bowl, Stanley Cup or the World Series. It’s the championship.
Following in the footsteps of fellow famous athletes of Clarion such as wrestler Kurt Angle and football player Reggie Wells Jr., Edgar is etching his name in history as one of Clarion’s favorite sons.
Should he defeat B.J. Penn, the best lightweight fighter in UFC history, Edgar would be of one the most talked about men in the UFC.
The victory would rival Kurt Angle’s Gold in the 1996 Summer Olympics as the single biggest accomplishment by a Clarion University Alumni.
Penn, a native Hawiian, has been a premier name in the UFC for the past seven years holding the championship belt in two divisions, lightweight (155 pounds) and a short stint as the welterweight (170 pounds) champion.
“B.J. is a great fighter, considered the best 155 ever. He has tremendous timing and is extremely well rounded. He doesn’t really have weaknesses,” said Edgar.
Clarion has long been known for its outstanding wrestling tradition and Edgar wanted to add to it.
“Clarion has a rich tradition when it comes to wrestling. I felt it was the right fit for me to continue my wrestling career and get an education,” Edgar said when asked why he made the six-hour trek from New Jersey to Clarion.
Edgar fights this Saturday night, April 10 at 10 p.m. on Pay-Per-View, at the Cell Block.
Other notable fights on the main card: Current middleweight champion Anderson “Spider” Silva also puts his belt on the line as he goes to blows with Demian Maia.
UFC legend Matt Hughes looks to improve to 45-7 as he goes against one of the famous Gracie Kin in Renzo Gracie in the competitive Welterweight class.
This may not be as important to Clarion University students, but still pretty important to followers of the UFC.
When asked what it would be like to be a hero for young Clarion athletes, much the same way Kurt Angle was an idol for him, Edgar said “I think it’s pretty cool. I really don’t look at myself like that but it’s nice to be recognized for my hard work.”
4.8.10 / Sports
Clarion pitcher Megan Daley and catcher Marissa Myers meet at home plate during a game. (Caitlin McGill / The Clarion Call)
Clarion University’s women’s softball team took on Lock Haven at Lawrence Field on April 2 in a double header. The Golden Eagles dropped both games to Lock Haven 0-4 and 2-8.
In game one, Lock Haven jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning, keeping control of the game and bringing in another run in the bottom of the third inning.
In the second game, Lock Haven defeated the Lady Eagles 8-2. A strong third inning by Lock Haven ran the score up 2-0. More »
4.1.10 / Sports
Spectators stand by to watch the festivities at Cook Forest during the 26th annual Cook Forest Half Marathon.
Clarion University hosted the 26th annual Cook Forest Half Marathon and 5K this past Saturday.
The event was held at Cook Forest, just 30 minutes outside Clarion. This year was the events best turnout yet, with nearly 800 runners that attended. More »
4.1.10 / Sports
For the second time in a few weeks, Clarion’s game was moved due to the poor weather conditions. More »
4.1.10 / Sports
Rebecca Lynch, No. 9, takes a swing at the ball during this weekend’s game. (Caitlin McGill / The Clarion Call)
The Clarion University women’s softball team traveled to California University of Pennsylvania this past Saturday for a double header, but was swept by the Vulcans 12-0 and 9-0. More »
4.1.10 / Sports
Clarion’s Women’s Tennis team fell to Mercyhurst College on Wednesday with a final score of 8-1.
Clarion’s only point came on a win from Haylee Gardner at No. 1 singles, defeating Mercyhurst’s Meghan Raynor in a tiebreaker match with a final score of 6-3, 4-6, 10-8. More »
3.25.10 / Sports
Golden Eagles wrestlers senior Hadley Harrison and freshman James Fleming both went 0-2 at the NCAA Division I Nationals last week after both previously finished second at the Eastern Western League’s Championship earlier in the month.
Harrison lost his first match in the 157-pound bracket to Northern Colorado’s Justin Gaethje.
After taking a 2-0 lead early in the match, Harrison would go on to lose 5-4 in the final seconds, giving Gaethje the win. More »
3.25.10 / Sports
Due to the bad field conditions at Clarion University, last Friday’s doubleheader was moved to Slippery Rock’s field.
The Golden Eagles had a hard time finding their rhythm as they fell to The Rock 15-0 and 6-0 respectively.
“Moving the game to Slippery Rock didn’t really factor in,” said sophomore catcher Ken Morgan. “We had just as many fans there as they did. The scores don’t reflect our potential to be good.”
Slippery Rock jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first game on a home run by Nick Caito.
After letting up another run in the third, Clarion pitcher Erik Panko gave up his second home run of the day, this time to Matt Kosik.
The game stayed close until the sixth inning, when Slippery Rock erupted for 11 runs in the inning.
Slippery Rock was able to bat around the order and seemed to get every timely hit they needed. After the long, restless inning for Clarion, they found themselves down 14-0.
Slippery Rock added another run in the seventh to take the 15-0 victory.
Panko took the loss for the Golden Eagles, while junior shortstop Dane Dobson led Clarion with a 2-2 day at the plate.
Clarion was looking for redemption in the second game of the doubleheader but found them in the same position.
Slippery rock got off to another early start as the plated two runs in the first inning to take an early lead.
With the Golden Eagles bats still asleep, The Rock took advantage scoring two more runs in the second.
With Clarion not even threatening to score, Slippery Rock took the easy victory, 6-0.
Even though he pitched a complete game, junior Gregg Bandzuh took the loss allowing 6 runs on 11 hits, two walks and six strikeouts.
Sophomore third baseman was the only one hitting for the Golden Eagles as he went 2-3 on the day.
Clarion was back at Slippery Rock on Saturday afternoon for another doubleheader.
After being shutout in both games on Friday, Clarion was eager to get some runs on the board.
Clarion showed they were ready to play as they came out and put a run on the board in the first inning.
Sophomore second basemen Jason Krimsky led off the game with a single.
White then was able to steal second base. After a walk to Dobson and a sacrifice bunt by Berkes, Jason Krimsky plated Clarion’s first run on a single.
With both pitchers cruising, Slippery Rock finally cracked the scoreboard in the fourth inning to tie the game.
Clarion quickly retook the lead in the next inning on a sacrifice fly by junior Nate Weiss.
After retying the game, The Rock took the lead on a Matt Howard home run, before scoring the winning run on an error.
Clarion tacked on a run in the seventh on a Sean Zimmerman double, but it was too little too late, as Clarion fell 4-3. Sophomore pitcher Brandon Slater took the loss going five innings, allowing four runs on five hits, and two strikeouts.
Leading Clarion offensively was Berkes going 2-3 and Morgan going 3-4 on the game.
“Our offense has been spotty lately,” said Morgan. “I know that our bats will start heating up again.”
With one game remaining in the series, Clarion was looking to come up with their first win.
They would not have much luck as Slippery Rock once again made easy work of Clarion with a 10-2 victory. Berkes had his worst outing of the year going one inning, while allowing eight runs on eight hits.
Offensively, Krimsky recorded both RBI’s for the Golden Eagles.Clarion will have a long week of practices after their doubleheader on Tuesday was cancelled due to rain against Point Park University.
The Golden Eagles will return to action on Friday as they travel to California University of Pennsylvania for a doubleheader staring at 1 p.m.
3.18.10 / Sports
The Clarion University wrestling team finished their season with a record of 8-8 and a third place finish at last week’s Eastern Western League Championships. More »
3.18.10 / Sports
The Clarion Golden Eagles comeback came up just shy in their conference semifinal match-up with Kutztown on March 5.
The Golden Eagles knew they had their hands full after already losing to Kutztown earlier in the season when they were ranked number two in the nation.
Kutztown got out to a hot start against the Golden Eagles, getting out to a quick 21-9 lead 7:23 into the first half. Clarion trailed by double digits for nearly all 20 minutes of the first half, and things were not looking good at all.
Kutztown out-shot Clarion from the field 52.8 percent to 29-7 percent in the first half, and went into the locker room with a 45-30 lead at the half.
With their season in jeopardy, the Golden Eagles needed a near miracle to pull out the win.
After both teams exchanged baskets for the first five minutes of the second half, Clarion started to make their run.
With 12:42 remaining in the game, Clarion got within their closest since the opening minutes at 54-49 on a Jamar Harrison lay-up.
With 8:19 remaining in the game Clarion cut their deficit to one on a Paul McQueen lay-up.
Just like that, Clarion was right back in the game.
Clarion hung right in there with Kutztown down the stretch as they kept the deficit to within three points going into the final minutes.
All it took was one empty possession that would doom the Golden Eagles. Down by three points, Shameel Carty was unable to get a shot off to tie the game.
Kutztown went 6-6 from the free throw line in the final minute to seal the 85-79 victory.
Clarion shot an astonishing 69 percent in the second.
Leading the Golden Eagles was Carty with 20 points. Jamar Harrison and Denzil Dennison recorded 16 points and 14 points respectively.
Lloyd Harrison and McQueen each chipped in 12 points to round out the players scoring in double figures.
The Golden Eagles finished the season at 18-11 and in second place in the PSAC-West conference.
They became the first Clarion team since 1997 to win a home playoff game.
Everyone will be returning from this year’s team except for lone senior Greg Parker.
Transfers Lloyd and Jamar Harrison were honored with their outstanding play this year with being named to the second team PSAC-West honorees.
Lloyd Harrison averaged 14.9 points per game, 4.9 rebounds per game, 4.6 assists per game, and 2.7 steals per game for the Golden Eagles this year.
Teammate Jamar Harrison led the team with 15.6 points per game, 4.8 rebounds per game, 1.9 steals per game and 2.1 assists per game.
3.4.10 / Sports
The Clarion Golden Eagles women’s basketball team fell to Edinboro University last Saturday night, ending their hopes of a playoff spot.
With that hope within their grasp, Clarion rallied in the second half, but fell short of Edinboro 78-66 at McComb Fieldhouse in Edinboro.
Going into the game 5-8 in the PSAC West, the Eagles needed a win to clinch the fourth and final playoff spot for the PSAC-West.
Right from the start, the battle was intense as Clarion knew this game would make or break their playoff hopes.
A win would mean they overcame numerous obstacles and injuries, which plagued the Lady Eagle’s season.
Both teams jumped out of the gates quickly, knowing this wouldn’t be an easy victory. For most of the first half, the Lady Eagles would lead, but eventually Edinboro would prove to be too much.
Thirteen minutes into the game, the score was tied up at 19. With 1:25 to play in the first half, Edinboro would re-tie the score at 30.
Edinboro went into the locker room at the half, up 35-31. Clarion was able to tie it up again at 48 with a little over 12 minutes to go in the game. However, this would be the closest the Lady Eagles would get to the Fighting Scots.
Clarion struggled from behind the arc, missing all three pointers, which has been one of the team’s strengths in the Golden Eagle’s offense during previous games.
Janelle Zabresky led the Lady Eagles with 19 points as Bethany Koch and Rachel Graeff followed with 13 each.
In an interview with Coach Gie Parsons, she said that the team played its heart out.
“The team had a lot of unfortunate injuries this season,” Parsons said.
Despite the injuries, the team still had an opportunity to make playoffs. In preparation for next year, Parsons said she wants to come back and work on a lot of the fundamentals and things that win big ball games.
With three players red shirting, the team will have a lot of really good players for their return next season. Goals are to get everyone healthy and back to full strength.
In an interview with senior Bethany Koch, she said she felt as though the team never reached its full potential this year.
Koch commented that in the off-season, the team “needs to improve on the little parts of the game and get all players and everyone on the same page.”
As she graduates this year, she said she looks forward to graduation and possibly getting into some coaching.
3.4.10 / Sports
The last time the Clarion men’s basketball team won a home playoff game was in 1997, until now. More »
2.25.10 / Sports
Clarion clinched its 12th PSAC-West playoff spot in 14 years with their 103-98 win over Slippery Rock this past Saturday. More »
2.25.10 / Sports
Steven Cressley wrestles against Lock Haven’s Derek Caldwell at 174 pounds, winning by decision 7-3. (Neal Henry / The Clarion Call)
With a dominating 33-9 win against Lock Haven Friday night, the Golden Eagles wrestling team finished the season with a record of 8-8 in dual meets and a 4-2 record in the Eastern Wrestling League. More »
2.18.10 / Sports
Huge wins from James Fleming at 149, Hadley Harrison at 157, and a decision from Nick Milano at 165 helped Clarion trample The University of North Carolina this past Saturday night 25-19 at Waldo S. Tippen Gym. More »
2.18.10 / Sports
This past Saturday, Clarion fell to Gannon University in overtime, 66-65. Or did they? Gannon University’s George Johnson made the game winning shot in overtime. More »
2.11.10 / Sports
Clarion fell to Indiana University of Pennsylvania this past Sunday afternoon, but not due to lack of effort. It was a White-Out at Clarion University’s Waldo S. Tippen Gymnasium as hundreds of fans packed in to catch the game.
The Lady Eagles jumped out to a controlling 11-2 lead about 3:77 into the game, and went into the half leading 47-31. The first half was all Clarion, as the team shot 17-34 from the field.
However, the second half was a different story, as IUP came back from a 16-point deficit at the half to take the lead with 1:10 left in the game.
The Lady Eagles struggled, shooting only 7-28 in the second half, letting the Lady Hawks come back and edge Clarion in the end with a final score of 84-83. More »
2.11.10 / Sports
In what can be considered a season of rebuilding, three Lady Golden Eagles qualified for the PSAC’s while participating in the Division II Challenge in Findlay, Oh. on Saturday.
Molly Smathers, Lisa Nickel, and Ciara Shorts all went into the weekend with the goal of qualifying for PSACs and all three achieved their goal.
“We talked about what they would run and all three chose the race they would do. Their individual goals were to qualify and they accomplished it,” said Interim Head Coach D.J. Bevevino. More »
2.11.10 / Sports
The Clarion men’s basketball team was set to face the number six ranked Indiana University of Pennsylvania Crimson Hawks (18-2, 7-1) Saturday night in a first place showdown in the PSAC West.
However, due to the snow storm in the area, the game was postponed until Sunday afternoon.
“The extra day gave us a chance to make sure we had our game plan together and an extra day of practice,” Jamar Harrison said.
The change in schedule did not affect the 1,100 fans that came out to cheer on their Golden Eagles in a 71-62 win, to come to a first-place tie with IUP. More »
4.29.10 / Drew Karpen
Clarion baseball closes season with a loss
4.22.10 / Dustin Sams
4.22.10 / Drew Karpen
Clarion gets swept in tripleheader
4.15.10 / Drew Karpen
Eagles earn third straight split
4.15.10 / Dustin Sams