RELEASE DATE: 4/20/04

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MOUNTIES SWEEP CLARION TO IMPROVE TO 27-17 – RAKACZEWSKI SETS SAVE RECORD WITH 10^TH OF SEASON

CLARION – Marty Rakaczewski (Wilkes-Barre/Hanover) set a new school record with his 10^th save of the season in the opener and DJ Hoshauer blasted his ninth home run of the season in the nightcap to lead Mansfield University to a 7-4, 18-3 sweep at Clarion University Tuesday afternoon.

In the opener, Justin Ferguson (Danville/Danville) was throwing a shutout until Clarion rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Rakaczewski, who set the school record for appearances in a season when he appeared in both games on Monday, broke Chris McGee’s school record when he retired the last two batters of the game for his 10^th save of the season. Josh Rearick, Hoshauer, Dan Kochenderfer and Matt Mills each had two hits for the Mountaineers.

In the nightcap, the Mountaineers exploded for a season high 22 hits with Eric Baker going 4-6 with a double and four RBI’s. Hoshauer also doubled along with blasting his eighth home run of the season and drove in four runs. David Meldrum picked up his first collegiate win going five innings. He was relieved by TJ Dincher.

The Mountaineers improve to 27-17 overall and will host Bloomsburg this Friday in the final home regular season games of the season.

GAME ONE

Mansfield       201     030     1          7-11-0

Clarion            000     000     4          4-7-2

Mansfield (26-17): Justin Ferguson (W, 2-1), Marty Rakaczewski (7) (S-10) and DJ Hoshauer

2b – Eric Baker, Brett Shockloss

RBI – Travis Wurster 2, Hoshauer, Dan Kochenderfer, Matt Mills, Shockloss, Travis Lepperd

Clarion (13-25): Bobby Huxta (L, 1-4), Bill Geiger (5) and Blake Wise

2b --  Kevin Gledhill, Tony Petulla, Michael Whitling

RBI – Bledhill, Jason Warner, Whitling, Todd Braid

GAME TWO

Mansfield       034     426     0          19-22-1

Clarion            110     001     0          3-4-8

Mansfield (27-17): David Meldrum (W, 1-2), TJ Dincher (6) and Hoshauer, Scott Erickson (6)

2b – Brandon Brokaw, Baker, Hoshauer, Lepperd

HR – Hoshauer (8)

RBI – Hoshauer 4, Baker 4, Wurster 3, Brokaw 2, Stu Sumner, Shockloss

Clarion (13-26): Caleb Martz (L, 0-2), Chuck Roller (6), Josh Gerstel (7) and Warner

2b – Petulla    RBI Brandon Guiliani