Clarion jumped out to a first inning lead in game one of Saturday's PSAC West softball doubleheader in Clarion on its way to a 16-0 victory over Pitt-Johnstown, before completing the sweep with a 3-0 win in the nightcap. The Mountain Cats slipped to 7-21 overall and 2-14 in the conference.
In the opener, Clarion got off to a fast start and used Amber Gilliam's three-run homer to enter to race out to a 9-0 advantage after one inning.
The Golden Eagles made it 12-0 with three more runs in the second, before adding four more in the third on their way to the 16-0 win.
Emma Hipps earned the complete-game, shutout victory for Clarion after holding the Mountain Cat to just one hit, a
Kayla Miehl lead-off single to begin the second inning. Hipps, now 8-3 on the year, struck out four and walked one.
Tori Radvan started in the circle for Pitt-Johnstown and took the loss after allowing five runs on three hits in 2/3 of an inning.
In game two, The Golden Eagles broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the bottom of the fourth off of Mountain Cat starter
Mia Smith. Emily Buchleitner's two-run double opened the scoring, before scored on Gilliam's single to center.
The Mountain Cats put runners on first and second in the top of the seventh on base hits from
Julia Mooney and Radvan, but Clarion starter Megan Anderson was able to get the final two outs to close out the complete-game shutout.
Ailah Charles and Miehl each had a double for Pitt-Johnstown, while Smith, Mooney, and Radvan singled.
Smith took the loss an fell to 5-8. Smith held the Golden Eagles to just three runs on just three hits.
The Golden Eagles are now 14-14 overall and 5-9 in the PSAC West.
The Mountain Cats travel to PSAC West doubleheaders at California (PA) on Tuesday, Edinboro on Friday, and Gannon on Saturday. Pitt-Johnstown is scheduled to play its next home doubleheader on April 18 against Seton Hill starting at 2 p.m. at V.E. Erickson Complex.
