WASHINGTON, Pa. — Mike Lockhart delivered Clarion’s first four-hit game in four seasons with his fourth being the biggest, a game-winning single in the top of the ninth inning, to help the Golden Eagles earn a split of a non-conference doubleheader with California (Pa.) Tuesday in Washington, Pa., with 15-12 victory.
(Photo: Mike Lockhart)
The Golden Eagles, who lost game one 7-2, scored three times in the top of the ninth after Cal had rallied from a two-run, 12-10, deficit in the bottom of the eighth to send the game one more extra inning on a two-run home run by David Marcus.
But Tyler Falk, who was on base five times and scored four runs while going 2-for-3 with three walks, led off the ninth with a base hit to left and was sacrificed to second by Derek Danver. One out later, Lockhart, who was 4-for-6 with three RBIs, gave the Golden Eagles the lead back with a single to left. Joey Lopez, who finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored, followed with a triple down the right-field line to make it 14-12, and Lopez scored when Austin Mike reached on an error.
Mike, who was 3-for-6 with two RBIs, was in the line to be the hero in the eighth inning, as his no-out, bases-loaded double to right scored Lockhart and Lopez, who had each singled, giving Clarion the lead.
But an error by Lopez in the bottom of the eighth gave the Vulcans life, and Marcus made Clarion pay with the two-run home run.
Clarion, which trailed 1-0 after two innings, took a 6-1 lead with six-run third that featured two-run triple by Josh Ponsoll, who was 2-for-5 with three RBIs, a two-run double by Joe Holmberg, an RBI base hit by Lockhart and a sacrifice fly by Danver.
Cal, though, answered with a five spot in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at six.
The Golden Eagles went back in front in the fourth with a pair of runs thanks to a two-run single up the middle by Lopez only to watch Cal score two in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at eight.
Clarion once again went up a pair, 10-8, with two more in the fifth on RBI single by Ponsoll and Lockhart only to watch the Vulcans again score a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning to retie the game.
Sean White got the win in relief going 4 2/3 innings and allowing two runs on the two-run homer by Marcus, on two hits while striking out four. Only one of the runs was earned.
Kyle Armagost started and lasted 2 2/3 innings giving up six runs, four earned, on six hits and a walk while striking out three. Chase Gorski then surrendered four earned runs in 1 1/3 innings of work giving up five hits and walking three while also striking out a batter. Gorski was helped by Cal, which had two runners erased on the base paths during his time on the mound.
Game one was all Cal with the Vulcans leading 7-0 before Lockhart smacked a two-run home run, his first of the season and the fourth of his three-year career, in the top of the seventh. It was one of only two hits in the game for the Golden Eagles.
Lopez took the loss going four innings giving up five runs on seven hits and three walks. Alex Borofski gave up two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out one in two innings of work.
The Golden Eagles are now 2-12 on the year.
Clarion is slated to be back in action with a doubleheader Friday at home with Pitt-Johnstown, field conditions permitting. The Golden Eagles are also at Pitt-Johnstown Saturday.
NOTES — Clarion’s last four-hit game was April 6, 2012, by Ken Morgan also against Cal.
