Sports

Clarion softball ends losing streak

The Golden Eagles softball team was desperate for a win coming into the doubleheader with Mansfield Sunday, April 10.

Junior pitcher Megan Daley set the tone in game one only giving up two runs.

Clarion sophomore Nicole Lidner came up with the big hit in the game, an RBI double that put Clarion up 2-0 in the second.

They would add two more runs in the third and went on to win game one 4-2.

Sophomore Erica Burkey threw great in game two, going seven innings, giving up only three runs. Only one of the three runs was earned.

The Golden Eagles bats were not awake in the game and only came up with three hits, and no runs, falling to Mansfield 3-0.

Clarion is now 6-12 overall and 1-7 in the PSAC-Central. Daley was on in game one, pitching seven innings and only giving up two earned runs.

It was her first win since the team went down South for spring training.

“It feels great to finally get a win. Our team really needed it,” Daley said.

“I think that win showed our defense that we do not need eight runs to win a game. I just hope we can remember what we did to get this win and do it for the rest of the season.”

It was Lidner who put Clarion up early. In the bottom of the second, there was no score.

Senior Nicole Lollo and junior Rebecca Lynch both got on with singles.

Lidner took advantage of her opportunity and drilled a double scoring, Lollo and Lynch putting the Golden Eagles up 2-0.

“We need to start attacking the ball more at the plate and string hits together to produce more runs,” Lidner said.

“If we can do this and play solid defense, we should be able to win more games down the stretch.”

Senior second baseman Katie Baun had herself a good day at the plate, going 2-3 with a big RBI single in the third.

She would later score that inning when Lollo hit her in with an RBI double.

After three innings, Clarion was up 4-0.

“It felt really great to make those connections and get a couple hits for us,” Baun said.

“Hopefully I can continue that into the next couple of games and help get our intensity up. Hitting is contagious, so if I can keep this consistency up, hopefully we will start
stringing more hits together and score more runs.”

With 18 games in the books, senior Carlie Cook leads the team in batting average hitting .423, home runs with five and has the most RBIs with 15.

Freshman Paige Alexander is hitting .379, and Lollo is hitting .360 with a team leading nine doubles.

Ace pitcher Daley is 4-5 overall with a 3.52 ERA, and nine complete games.

The Golden Eagles will return to action on Thursday, April 14, when they host Lock Haven University for a doubleheader.

The first pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.