Their numbers may not match their size, but Josh Gerstel and Brad Adamski are getting the job done on the mound for Clarion University.

"They always give us a chance to win the ballgame," Clarion baseball coach Scott Feldman said. "If one of those two guys is pitching, we're gonna be in the game."

The 6-foot-6, 195-pound Gerstel, is 3-2 with a 5.86 earned run average for the Golden Eagles this spring. The Butler graduate has 20 strikeouts and 10 walks in 27

innings pitched.

The strikeouts per innings pitched ratio are down for Gerstel this year. He had 60 strikeouts and 16 walks last year, 62 strikeouts and 25 walks in 2003 - averaging more than a strikeout per inning both seasons.

"I'm only pitching at about 85 percent right now," Gerstel said. "My rotator cuff is loose and it's causing pain in my right shoulder.

"I can still pitch and help the team, so I'm still going out there."

Despite the soreness, Gerstel leads the Clarion pitching staff in wins and is second in innings pitched.

He throws a fastball, slider, curve and changeup, all from over the top or sidearm.

"I feel like I have seven or eight different pitches," Gerstel said.

The 6-foot-7, 225-pound Adamski is one of four seniors on the Golden Eagles' roster and is a team captain. The Mars graduate is 2-3 with a 5.96 ERA so far this spring, but has won his last two starts.

He has 17 strikeouts and nine walks in 22

innings pitched this season.

Adamski defeated Lock Haven and Slippery Rock - two PSAC West foes - last week.

"I really struggled down in Florida," Adamski admitted. "But I've got it together now. I'm spotting my pitches much better."

Both pitchers have been key components of Clarion's rise to a PSAC playoff this spring. The Golden Eagles began the week 16-13 overall, 6-2 and in second place in the PSAC West.

Clarion is coming off five successive losing seasons and was a paltry 17-63 in conference play over the past four years.

"We've jelled as a team and we're hitting the ball better than anytime since I've been here," Gerstel said. "Everyone's coming out and playing hard every game."

The team is playing so well, in fact, that Adamski wishes he had another year of eligibility.

"That'd be nice," he said. "But we're having so much fun this year. I'm hoping myself and the other seniors can leave here saying we were the start of something big in Clarion baseball."

If the Golden Eagles don't reach the PSAC playoffs this year, they might be hard pressed to do it next year. Their four seniors include three starting pitchers and right fielder Kevin Gledhill, their leading hitter.

Gerstel knows he has to be healthy next season.

"I'm the pitcher coming back and it's going to be on me to lead the way," he said. "I'm hoping to do better this year and get more wins, but I should be totally healthy next year."

After pitching nearly 150 innings last spring and summer, Gerstel is taking this summer off.

"It was the wear and tear on my shoulder that strained it," he said. "I need to give it some rest."

Gerstel was PSAC Rookie of the Year in 2003 and is 12-9 in his college career. Adamski is 7-12 in his Clarion career.

"Next year will be weird because I may be through with baseball," Adamski said. "It's been a big part of my life since I was 5 years old.

"Other than pitching in a summer league somewhere, this is it for me and competitive baseball. Hopefully, we're on the way to a memorable season."