Bison Unable To Make Five-Run Lead Stand Up Against Chucks

PUNXSUTAWNEY — Clearfield built a 6-1 lead against Punxsutawney ace John Matthews, but the Chucks erupted for seven runs in the bottom of the third inning and went on to hand the Bison a 10-6 setback at Rich Kuntz Memorial Field Friday.

Run-scoring singles by Erik Sellers and Sawyer Rowles gave Clearfield a 3-1 advantage in the second inning, and the Bison widened the margin with three runs in the next frame on singles by Curtis Collins, Josh Sorbera and Rowles around a walk and an error.

However, Devin Jones couldn’t keep the Chucks at bay in the third.

He was relieved by Brandon Orsich, who was saddled with the loss when he gave up a walk and a bases-loaded double to Braxton Giavedoni, who had ignited the rally with a two-bagger.

Brandon Blose and Giavedoni, the No. 8 and No. 9 batters in the order, combined for five hits, five RBIs and four runs scored.

Clearfield (1-10) got to Matthews for 10 hits, but the unbeaten sophomore right-hander with a previous earned run average of 1.81 emerged from his five-inning stint with his fourth win. He struck out four and issued only his second walk in 24 innings.

Cory Geer closed out Punxsy’s eighth win in 11 games with two hitless innings. He fanned five.

Sorbera and Spencer Herrington joined Rowles in the two-hit column for Clearfield.

The Bison host Penns Valley in Mountain League action Tuesday, with the teams to complete the 11-inning, 3-3 tie in their previous meeting prior to the regularly-scheduled game.

In the junior varsity game, Clearfield (5-4) romped to an 18-4 victory as Jonathan Trimpey rapped three hits and drove in two runs while Logan Lykens belted a grand-slam home run. Tommy Hazel was the winning hurler. 

CLEARFIELD — 6

Cole Kephart 3b 4110, Spencer Herrington ss 4020, Curtis Collins lf 3111, Jon Janocko 1b 4000, Logan Puit rf 2000, Dan Collins ph 1000, Josh Sorbera c 3220, Zach Timchak ph 1000, Devin Jones p 0000, Brandon Orsich p 0000, Thomas Summers dh-p 4211, Erik Sellers 2b 3011, Sawyer Rowles cf 2022.  TOTALS: 31  6  10  5.

PUNXSUTAWNEY — 10

John Matthews p-1b 4110, Dakota Thomas ss 3111, Michael Klingensmith 2b 2210, Ryan Sloniger c 4022, Dakotah Byers 3b 3100, Christian Falgout lf 1000, Cory Geer 1b-p 0000, Clayton Dale dh 3000, Ruben Taylor rf 1000, Brandon Blose rf 2222, Braxton Giavedoni cf 3223.  TOTALS: 26  10  10  8.

Score by Innings

Clearfield             123 000 0 –   6  10  3

Punxsutawney    107 020 x – 10  10  3

E – Kephart, Herrington, Rowles; Thomas, Byers, Geer. LOB – Clearfield 6; Punxsutawney 3. 2B – Giavedoni 2. 3B – Sloniger. SF – C. Collins. CS – Thomas (by Sorbera), Falgout (by Sorbera).

Pitching

Clearfield – Jones 2-1/3 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 5 BB, 1 K; Orsich 2-1/3 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K; Summers 1-1/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, o K.

Punxsutawney – Matthews 5 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K; Geer 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K.

HB – Matthews 1 (Rowles).

W – Matthews (4-0). L – Orsich (0-2).

Bison Scoreboard: