Big Day by Tyler Falk Not Enough, as Clarion U. Baseball Drops Two to Gannon

ERIE, Pa. – Tyler Falk ran his hitting streak to a career-best eight games while hitting a pair of home runs in a doubleheader, but the Clarion University baseball team was swept by Gannon Saturday at Gannon in PSAC West play.

The Golden Eagles lost game one 12-4 despite Falk going 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in the seventh.

Clarion then dropped the nightcap 5-3 despite a 2-for-4 performance by Falk that included a solo home run in the fifth.

Falk finished the day 3-for-7 with the two home runs, giving him a team-high six homers, the most by a Golden Eagle since Matt Rossi clubbed what is believed to be a school-record tying seven in 2012. Rossi is joined in the seven homerun club by Ken Morgan (2010) and Kevin Gledhill (2004). Cary Grubb also hit six in 1987, while Gledhill clubbed six in 2005.

Derek Danver and Jordan Mesoraco also had three hits on the day for Clarion both going 3-for-7 with Danver picking up a double and Mesoraco driving home two runs. Danver was 2-for-3 with his double in game two, a contest that also saw Mesoraco go 2-for-3 with an RBI. Tyler Delval also had a pair of hits with both coming in game two when he went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Delval saw his five-game hitting streak come to and end in game one but has now hit safely in six of seven.

Despite the loss in game two, Clarion got a decent game on the mound from Kane McCall who went the distance giving up five runs, all earned, on nine hits while striking out four in six innings.

In game one, Troy Kumar started and took the loss going 3.1 innings and giving up eight runs, all earned, on 10 hits and a walk with three strikeouts. Josh Friel pitched 2.2 innings giving up four runs, three earned, on six hits and a walk while also striking out one.

Clarion returns to action Sunday with a pair of games at Gannon again but as the home team. Game one starts at noon.

NOTES – Falk, a sophomore who was the PSAC West Freshman of the Year last season, is now hitting .370 on the season with the six home runs, the first six of his career, to go with five doubles and a career-best 21 RBIs. In 63 career games, Falk is hitting .366 (71 of 194) with six home runs, 10 doubles, fibve troples and 39 RBIs … Delval, who recently moved into the lineup full time, is hitting .458 (11 of 24) with five home runs and seven RBIs, while Mesoraco, the younger brother of Cincinnati Reds All-Star catcher Devin Mesoraco, is hitting .325 (13 of 40) with a home runs, two doubles and five RBIs. Danver is also having a strong dseason at the plate hitting .315 (23 of 73) with a pair of home runs, two doubles and 12 RBIs.