Clarion (7-21 overall, 4-14 PSAC West) dropped the first game 5-0 before winning the second game in dramatic fashion despite having an early 5-0 lead.

In the second game with one out in the seventh inning, pinch-hitter Ben Thomas drove a double to the left-center gap. Josh Ponsoll was intentionally walked to put runners at first and second. Drew Pirritano hit a hard single to left field which led to the hit-by-pitch to give the Golden Eagles the victory.

Danver went 3-for-4 in the game with two RBI’s and a run scored. Ponsoll was 2-for-4 with pair of runs scored and a walk.

The Golden Eagles put a five spot up in the bottom of the third for the early lead. Danver drove in the game’s first run with an RBI single to left that scored Ponsoll. Two batters later, Tyler Falk drove in Jordan Mesoraco to make it 2-0. Mitch Holmberg, who went 2-for-2, followed that up with a single of his own to make it 3-0. Later in the inning Joey Lopez hit a two-run single to make it 5-0 in favor of Clarion.

Clarion starting pitcher Kane McCall worked himself into a bit of trouble in the fourth. After retiring the first two batters to start the inning, he walked three straight to load up the bases. Jared Wiessen followed that up with a two-run single to make it 5-2.

McCall got into more damage in the fifth. After a pair of walks and a groundout to move the runners up, McCall was called for a balk to move both runners up 90 feet to make it a 5-3 game. A sacrifice-fly made it 5-4 and then a single tied the game at five to knock McCall out of the game.

McCall went 4.2 innings while giving up six runs, four hits, seven walks, and struck out one in the no decision.

Sam Skraba came in to relieve McCall and the Golden Knights took the lead on an RBI single to make it 6-5.

Clarion loaded up the bases for Tyler Falk in the sixth with only one out. Falk it a sharp by up the middle that was snatched up by Gannon shortstop Bob Roach for the fielder’s choice. Following a Mitch Holmberg hit by pitch, his brother Joe Holmberg, who also had two hits in the second game, flew out to right field to end the threat.

Lopez, who started the game at shortstop, got the win in two innings of scoreless relief. He gave up a pair of hits and walks while striking out two.

Matt Wilwohl picked up the loss for Gannon as he pitched the entire game giving up 15 hits, seven runs, two walks, while striking out two.

In game one, Gannon (11-23, 6-12) scored a run in the top of the first to take an early lead. The Golden Knights added three in the second off Clarion starter Sean White to make it 4-0.

White slowed down after the second inning and only gave up one more run the rest of the way. He gave up five runs, four earned, four hits, six walks, while striking out four in his seven innings of work.

The Golden Eagles only had one hit in game one. Mike Lockhart hit a double off the left field fence to lead off the bottom of the fourth.

Aaron Cox got the win for Gannon as he one-hit the Golden Eagles over seven innings. He stuck out eight while adding one walk.

Clarion returns to action on Tuesday when it hosts PSAC West opponent Slippery Rock for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.

Story by Jonathan Hooke.