CLARION, Pa.  – The Edinboro University softball team took a quick break from conference action to take on Clarion on Wednesday afternoon, splitting a doubleheader with their non-conference foe. With the split, the Fighting Scots improved to 12-13 overall while the Golden Eagles fell to 5-29.
 
The Fighting Scots return home for a pair of doubleheaders against conference opponents this weekend, beginning with Slippery Rock on Friday, April 14^th at 2:30 p.m. On Saturday, April 15^th, the Fighting Scots are scheduled to host Seton Hill with first pitch slated for 1 p.m.
 
Game One – Clarion 5, Edinboro 4
A late Edinboro rally fell short in the day's opening contest as the tying run was left stranded at second base in the top of the seventh. Following Danna Heh reaching safely on an error, Claire Johnston's second RBI double of the contest cut the deficit to 5-4 with no outs and the tying run in scoring position. Unfortunately, the runner would advance no further as the Golden Eagles held on to win.
 
Clarion opened the scoring in the contest in the second inning on a Taylor Nonnenberg RBI single.
 
After four scoreless innings, the Fighting Scots made a dent in the scoreboard and took a 3-1 lead. Courtney Allen led off the top of the fifth with a single to right followed by a Heh single through the left side. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch, setting up Johnston's two-run double. Emily Osterberg pinch ran for Johnston and came around to score on an Olivia Jankowski double to left.
 
The Golden Eagles responded swiftly, cutting the Edinboro lead to 3-2 on a Bridgid Stermel RBI. Clarion retook the lead in the next inning, scoring three runs in the home half of the sixth to take a 5-3 lead. Stermel's second RBI of the contest, scoring Clarion's fifth run proved to be the difference. 
 
Kerri Stevens (0-2) took the loss for Edinboro, giving up four runs (two earned) on seven hits in five innings work. She also struck out six batters in the contest.
 
Paige Baker (1-5) picked up her first win of the season in relief of starter Sarah Gossard. Baker pitched two innings, allowing just one run on one hit and striking out a pair.
 
Johnston had the hot hand in the contest, finishing the opening game 3-for-4 with a career-high two doubles and three RBIs. Heh was 3-for-4 in the contest.
 
Game Two – Edinboro 5, Clarion 2
A nearly entirely new look lineup for the Fighting Scots in the day's second contest brought home the victory for the Fighting Scots, ensuring the split. Edinboro got a boost from a familiar face however as Kalet Lenart (5-3) threw a dominant complete game. Lenart gave up just two runs (one earned) on three hits and fanned five batters. It was her third complete game victory of the year.
 
The Fighting Scots opened the scoring in the top of the second, taking advantage of a pair of Clarion errors to take a 1-0 lead as Roni Lipinski took home on a throwing error by the catcher.
 
Edinboro added a second run in the top of the fourth to take a 2-0 lead. Shannon Gilbert led off the inning with a triple to set up Cheyenne Bothun's sacrifice fly.
 
Clarion cut the Edinboro lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth on a Rachel Hoffman RBI single, but the Fighting Scots responded in a big way. Lauren Gierlak led off the top of the sixth with a single and Gilbert reached on an error by the third baseman. Bothun laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners and Lipinski brought Gierlak home on a fielder's choice. The big hit in the inning came on Courtney Allen's two-run double that gave Edinboro a 5-1 lead.
 
Clarion could muster up just one run and two hits in the final two innings as Lenart recorded a one-two-three inning in the bottom of the seventh to end any chances of a Golden Eagles rally.
 
Rachel Hoffman (4-8) took the loss for th4e Golden Eagles, giving up five runs (two earned) on five hits in six innings.
 
Courtney Allen finished the contest 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. Gilbert was 1-for-2 with a triple. Lipinski and Bothun both added RBIs as well.