JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Despite a four-hit day from senior captain Bill Hasson (Franklin), the 2013 Clarion University Baseball team opened its season on Monday with a doubleheader loss at Pitt-Johnstown by the scores of 11-0 and 12-6 at Johnstown’s Point Stadium.
In game one Hasson led the Golden Eagle offense going three for four, while five other Clarion hitters had one hit each.
Clarion starter and loser Brett Whitman threw four scoreless innings to start game 1, but ran into trouble in the fifth when UPJ exploded for an 11-run inning against three Clarion pitchers. Whitman yielded a double and a triple in the fifth to put UPJ ahead 1-0, then exited for reliever Ryan Voisey (So. Hermitage). Voisey yielded two runs in a third of an inning, then Kevin Gnacinski (Sr. Erie) came on to relieve Voisey and yielded seven runs. In all the Cats scored 11 runs on 9 hits to put the game away.
In game two the Golden Eagles jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Drew Pirritano (So. Scranton) walked and Derek Danver (So. Clearfield) was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second, With one out Nick Maskrey (Jr. Cranesville) reached on an error, then wirth two outs Jordan Mesoraco (Fr. Punxsutawney) walked to score the Eagles first run, then Josh Ponsoll (Fr. Edinboro/General McLane) added a two rbi single to stake the Eagles to a 3-0 lead.
UPJ scored two in the bottom of the first, one in the second and two more in the third to go ahead 5-3.
In the fourth Clarion drew to within 5-4 when Ponsoll singled, advanced to third on a passed ball and a groundout, then scored on a balk.
UPJ put the game away with four runs in the fifth and three in the six.
Clarion added two runs in the seventh when Hasson tripled home Ben Thomas (So. Quarryville), and then Hasson scored on a wild pitch.
Ponsoll finished game two going 3 for 4 with 2 rbi, while Hasson was 1 for 4 with a triple and an rbi. On the day Hasson was 4 for 8 with a triple and 1 rbi.
Clarion’s Caleb McGary (Jr. Curwensville) tossed three innings in game two and took the loss giving up 5 runs on 5 hits, striking out 5.
The Golden Eagles will next play a doubleheader on March 2 at Davis & Elkins.
