MANSFIELD – Joelle Snyder drilled a pair of home runs and Anastasia Hester and Lesley Fritz also went yard as Mansfield earned a PSAC Central sweep over Clarion on Monday afternoon at Helen Lutes Field.
 
Mansfield (14-12, 8-6 PSAC Central) overcame an early deficit to win game one 5-2 before cruising to a 15-0 win in five innings in game two.
 
The Mounties are currently fourth in the PSAC Central division with an 8-6 conference mark, just one spot out of a PSAC playoff berth. Bloomsburg leads the division with an 11-5 divisional record followed by IUP at 9-5 and Lock Haven at 10-6.
 
Game 1
Both sides were locked in a pitcher's duel through the first four innings of the game with each team putting runners in scoring position, but unable to capitalize. Clarion (0-37, 0-14 PSAC Central) pushed a pair of runs across in the top of the fifth inning on Rebecca Kelly's double to left field.
 
The lead would be short lived however, as Alli McGovern got aboard with a single and Deshae Jones reached with a walk before Cassidy Smith brought them both home with a double in the gap to tie the game at 2-2.
 
After a 1-2-3 top of the sixth inning, Anastasia Hester gave the Mounties a 3-2 lead with her solo home run over the left field fence. It was the first of the season for Hester. Devin Jones followed with an infield single before Snyder belted a triple down the right field line to bring in another run. Snyder capped a three-run bottom of the sixth by scoring on a wild pitch from third.
 
With two outs, Clarion hit back-to-back singles and drew a walk to load the bases. Mountaineer starting pitcher Arianna Young forced a groundout for the final out of the game as Mansfield took the opener 5-2.
 
Young earned her fifth win of the season in the circle, allowing eight hits and just one walk with two strikeouts. Macy Rubin took the loss.
 
Game 2
Mansfield was first to get on the board in the nightcap when Snyder drilled a lead-off home run in the bottom of the first. Alli McGovern was hit by a pitch and Deshae Jones singled on a bunt to set up Lacey O'Donnell's RBI single up the middle. Another hit-by-pitch loaded the bases, and then the Mounties plated two more on an error-filled play by Clarion that allowed Jones and O'Donnell to score.
 
Devin Jones' single through the left side brought in Smith before an Alex Hein RBI single to center field scored Fritz. With bases-loaded, Snyder took the second pitch she saw and sent it over the centerfield fence to bring in four more runs to increase the Mansfield lead to 10-0. It was the third home run of the season for Snyder and second grand slam after hitting an inside the park grand slam earlier in the year at Myrtle Beach.
 
In the bottom of the second inning, Fritz joined in on the home run party with a solo shot to left field. It was her second round-tripper of the season.
 
Fritz struck again in the third inning when she doubled to left field, scoring Alli McGovern and O'Donnell to increase the Mansfield lead to 13-0.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Alex Hein walked and Snyder doubled to put a pair of runners in scoring position. Pinch hitter Jordan Sanford came through with a hard hit double against the left field fence to bring in another run. O'Donnell capped the Mounties' scoring with an RBI single to left field.
 
Brooke Roys maintained her 0.00 ERA with a scoreless fifth inning in the circle.
 
Alexis Easling moved to 8-4 on the season with just three hits and one walk allowed to go along with five strikeouts.
 
Snyder went 3-for-4 with five RBIs and three runs scored. Lacey O'Donnell also had a 3-for-4 day with a pair of runs and RBIs.
 
Mansfield hosts IUP in a key PSAC Central match-up on Tuesday at 2 p.m.