CLEARFIELD — Brandon Orsich pitched a four-hitter while Sawyer Rowles belted a two-run home run and also made a key defensive play as the Clearfield American Legion baseball team snapped a four-game losing streak with a 6-2 victory over State College at the Lawrence Township Recreation Park Field Sunday evening.
The Chiefs gave Orsich a three-run cushion in the first inning of the Central Penn League game on an RBI groundout by Curt Collins and Rowles’ dinger over the left field fence.
The Chiefs’ center fielder said the homer, which proved to be the game-winning hit, was the first one he’s ever had.
Rowles also prevented State College (0-5) from bringing the tying run to the plate in the seventh inning when he raced into left center and backhanded Chris Boal’s drive that was destined for extra bases with three teammates aboard.
Following the sacrifice fly, Orsich punctuated Clearfield’s second win with his sixth strikeout. Five of his whiffs came in the last three frames.
The right-hander walked three batters and hit one en route to his first victory in three decisions.
Orsich also had two of the Chiefs’ eight hits off Ben Finlan, as did Spencer Herrington and Josh Kennedy.
Clearfield’s final three runs, all unearned because of a two-out error, came on clutch singles by Thomas Summers, Kennedy and Orsich in the sixth inning.
Finlan, who was 2-6 with a 4.50 earned run average as the No. 2 starter for Grove City College during the spring, struck out three and walked two.
Clearfield will travel to Bellefonte Monday for a game that was moved from Saturday.
STATE COLLEGE — 2
Dalton Barger cf-rf 3000, Tristan Ballenger 1b 3000, John Bergman c 3010, Chris Boal 3b 2001, Sean O’Melia ss-lf 4000, Zach Ripka 2b 3110, Oliver Dailey lf 0000, Derick VanHorne ph-cf 2000, Josh Gardner rf 1010, Calvin Sichler ph-ss 2000, Zach Smeal dh 3111. TOTALS: 26 2 4 2.
CLEARFIELD — 6
Logan Puit c 2100, Spencer Herrington ss 2220, Curt Collins 2b 3001, Cole Kephart 3b 3000, Sawyer Rowles cf 3212, Thomas Summers 1b 3111, Josh Kennedy lf 3021, Brandon Orsich p 3021, Zach Timchak rf 2000, Ty Bender eh 2000. TOTALS: 26 6 8 6.
Score by Innings
State College 010 000 1 – 2 4 2
Clearfield      300 003 x – 6 8 4
E – Boal; Herrington 2, Kephart, Summers. LOB – State College 9; Clearfield 4. HR – Rowles (1). Sac – Ballenger, Dailey. SF – Boal. SB – Bergman, O’Melia, Smeal; Herrington.
Pitching
State College – Ben Finlan – 6 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K.
Clearfield – Orsich – 7 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K.
HB – Orsich 1 (Bergman).
W – Orsich (1-2). L – Finlan.
Umpires – Bill Pringle (plate) and Jim Matthews (bases).
