Winter Haven, Fla. – Behind a standout pitching performance from freshman Cal Slepko (Rehoboth, Mass.), Clark University was able to secure a split of doubleheader with Cornell College on Monday afternoon at Chain O'Lakes Stadium.

The Cougars dropped the first game 12-3 after committing seven errors and only mustering five hits but they bounced back in the nightcap, taking an 8-4 decision over the Rams.

Clark actually held the in the lead in the opener after Kyle Bonicki (Waterbury, Conn.) doubled to center and then came home on a David Eschen (New York, N.Y.) single.

Cornell followed with an eight-run second inning in which 14 batters stepped to the plate. Tony Medina had an RBI single and drove in another run with a sacrifice fly later in the frame that put the Rams ahead 8-1.

The Rams tacked on two runs in the fourth and two more in the sixth with Ben Allbee collecting three hits, two runs and an RBI in the opener.

Clark's other two runs came in the fifth – one as an unearned and the other on a Bonicki single. Taylor Serrano (Essex, Conn.) was the tough luck loser for the Scarlet and White as he yielded four hits and eight earned runs in 1.1 innings of work.

Cornell's Kevin Stahmer earned the victory, allowing four hits and three runs over 4.1 innings and a trio of Ram relievers held Clark scoreless the rest of the way.

The Cougars fared much better in the second game as Slepkow, making his first collegiate appearance, went the distance, scattering six hits and allowing just two earned runs while striking out five.

After each team scored single unearned runs in the first, Clark added two more of the unearned variety in the second to go ahead 3-1.

Adam Chochrek (Foxboro, Mass.) then provided the power, crushing a two-run homer to left in the third that put the Cougars ahead 5-1.

The team's traded RBI singles in the fourth and then the Scarlet and White added two more in the fifth when Tyler Hutchinson (Greene, Maine) delivered a two-run single.

Cornell pushed across single runs in the sixth and seventh but Slepkow proved to be too strong as he earned his first career win.

Eschen and Chochrek had three hits apiece and Chochrek added three runs scored and two RBI to his statline.

Clark is now off until Wednesday when they face Daniel Webster at 2:30 p.m.