The day began with a tough lesson in missed opportunities and defensive miscues for the Penguins. Clark struck first in Game 1, manufacturing a run in the second inning when Kobin Mullins scored on a wild pitch. Behind a steady start from Kenneth Hall, the Penguins held that 1–0 lead through four innings and appeared in control.
But the game unraveled in the fifth.
Lane capitalized on three Clark errors in the inning, turning a tight contest into a 3–1 deficit. The momentum shift proved decisive, as Lane added two more runs in the sixth—both coming with the bases loaded—to extend the lead to 5–1. Clark showed some fight late, as Jacob Lee scored on a Caden Taylor RBI double in the seventh, but the comeback fell short.
Despite the loss, there were bright spots. Taylor and Rylan Taguchi each recorded two hits, while Hall delivered five solid innings on the mound. Still, three errors and missed chances ultimately defined the opener.
Game 2 told a different story.
Clark flipped the script with clean defense, timely hitting, and a dominant performance on the mound from Garrett Maunu. After Lane took a 1–0 lead in the first inning—again aided by a balk—the Penguins settled in and took control.
The breakthrough came in the fourth. Clark capitalized on Lane's mistakes, using a balk to tie the game before Lucas Tiernan drove in the go-ahead run with an RBI ground out. Drew Yount followed with an RBI single to give Clark a 3–1 advantage.
An inning later, Rylan Taguchi delivered an insurance run with an RBI double to center, scoring Taddeo Ituarte and pushing the lead to 4–1.
From there, Maunu took over. The right-hander went the distance, allowing just one run on seven hits while keeping Lane off balance throughout. His complete-game effort not only secured the win but gave Clark a crucial lift after the Game 1 setback.
Offensively, Yount led the way with two hits and an RBI, while Taguchi and Taylor continued their strong days at the plate. Ituarte added energy at the top of the lineup, scoring twice and helping spark key innings.
In the end, the doubleheader showcased both sides of Clark College baseball—how quickly things can slip away, and how effectively this group can respond. By cleaning up their defense and leaning on strong pitching, the Penguins turned a frustrating start into a resilient finish, leaving Eugene with a hard-earned split.
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