Sports

Golden Eagles fall short

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.

Clarion came out in the fourth inning strong with a Kacie Nemeth single. Later in the inning, Nicole Lollo singled with an RBI. Randi Pace scored, unearned.

Katie Baun reached on a fielder’s choice. Detrimental to the Lady Eagle’s surge, Lock Haven ran in four runs in the bottom of the fifth and two in the bottom of the sixth to defeat the Lady Eagles 8-2.

The next day, the Lady Eagles took on Shippensburg University in a double header at home. The Lady Eagles fell, 9-6 and 8-1. In the first game, Shippensburg jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning.

Clarion scored three in the third inning, pulling ahead of Shippensburg, but Shippensburg rallied in the fourth, bringing in three runs making the score 4-3.

They inflicted more pain on the Lady Eagles by pulling in four more runs in the sixth inning.
Clarion scored one run in the bottom of the sixth, making the score 8-4 Shippensburg.

Shippensburg sealed the win with one run in the last inning even though Clarion managed to accrue two more runs in the bottom of the seventh.

In game two, Shippensburg got three runs in the first, four in the fourth, and one in the sixth. Clarion got its single run in the sixth inning.

In an interview with head coach Nicole Banner, she said the team has shown vast improvements from Florida.

She states their offense is starting to come together, and their defense is solidifying. She continued saying the teams defense is by far their biggest strength.

She said the team has turned the most double plays in the PSAC, which gives their offense a chance to keep in the game.

“Our pitching could still do a lot of work on hitting locations. Megan Daley has begun to really shine the past four games, but still has some work to do. The team’s offense is starting to pick up, but they do need to work on our situational hitting,” Banner.

In an interview with player Rachelle Yarger, she said she feels this season is a rebuilding season. She said the team is a very young team and they are working well together to make the best of this experience.

She continued saying she feels unity is the team’s best strength.

She stated that “coach has been instilling in us that we are a family and we will stick together win or lose.”

She also said the team needs to keep working hard and playing to the best of their abilities.