Sports

Clarion baseball splits doubleheader against Mercyhurst

The Clarion University baseball team traveled to a Butler, Pa. on March 26 to battle the Lakers of Mercyhurst University in a doubleheader.

The Golden Eagles have met the Lakers on multiple occasions this season, but previously failed to pull off a win.

Perrenial powerhouse Mercyhurst came into the weekend’s game boasting an impressive 16-5 record.

The Golden Eagles had struggled thus far into the season winning only two games as compared to 14 losses.

While the team’s success this year has been admittedly limited, the team remains hopeful that things will turn around.

Game one of the doubleheader kicked off with Clarion senior Eric Panko taking the mound against the Lakers’ Nick Gillung, who entered with a 5-1 record.

From the onset of the game, things progressed less than ideally for Panko, who allowed three hits and five runs in just two innings of work.

Gillung pitched an impressive complete game.

The Golden Eagles managed only three hits throughout the game against the Lakers’ strong pitcher.

They cashed in one run on those three hits. Shortstop Jerico Weitzel provided the high point of Clarion’s offense, managing to punch out two of the Golden Eagle’s three total
hits.

Mercyhurst would cruise to a game one victory by a score of 6-1. Game two would prove to bear a much better outcome for the Clarion baseball squad.

Freshman Mike Dunn climbed the mound to start as pitcher for Clarion, while Zach Leitten took over Mercyhurst’s starting duties.

Dunn would turn out to be the first of five pitchers the Golden Eagles would cycle through during the game that lasted an extended eight innings.

The game lasted two and one half innings without any scoring, but Mercyhurst broke through in the bottom of the third inning, when two runners crossed home.

Clarion responded quickly in the top of the fourth, when they batted in six runs.

Junior centerfielder Josh Beimel and shortstop Weitzel added to the fury of the Clarion offense by each batting 3-5 for the game, and providing a cumulative six runs.

The two teams ended regulation play tied at six runs apiece, so extra innings were in order.

Clarion junior Scott Berkes took over pitching duties and helped push the Golden Eagles to victory by putting in two innings worth of work.

He would be credited with the win for the Golden Eagles pitching staff, making him 2-1 on the year.

The win bolstered Clarion’s confidence to progress through the rest of the season successfully.

“The game at Mercyhurst is going to be the driving force for the rest of the season,” Clarion junior catcher Ken Morgan said.

“This is my third season with Clarion, and I have never been more proud of the team.”

Weitzel was named PSAC-West player of the week for his performance at the plate.

He went 5-8 with three runs scored and four RBIs.

Weitzel is the first Clarion player to receive the award since 2006.

The Golden Eagles will be back in action on April 1 when they travel to Slippery Rock University.

The Golden Eagles plan to play a doubleheader against The Rock, but with the weather not seeming to give way any time soon, hopes of getting the game in without being
postponed are slim.

“Ideally we wouldn’t want to cancel any games,” Morgan said.

“But that’s the price you pay when you play in the PSAC,” he said.