Game 1 Boxscore
Game 2 Boxscore

Greg Stewart (Kittanning/Elderton) and Stephen Cooke (Severn, MD/Archbishop Curley) combined to limit Gannon to four hits in the first game, and IUP rallied for two runs in the sixth to take the nightcap in a doubleheader sweep over the Golden Knights Saturday at Owen Dougherty Field.

The Crimson Hawks won by scores of 6-2 and 3-2 to even their overall record at 12-12 while improving to 4-2 in the PSAC West. Gannon dropped to 6-12 overall and 2-4 in the division. The two teams play another doubleheader Sunday in Erie.

In the first game, Stewart gave up only four hits and one earned run in six innings to move to 3-0 on the season. He walked four and struck out 11 before giving way to Cooke in the seventh, and the IUP closer proceeded to strike out the side to finish off the win.

In four starts this season, Stewart has allowed only 15 hits and two earned runs while striking out 29 batters in 23 1-3 innings. He has an ERA of 0.77 and opponents are batting just .188 against him.

After Stewart struck out the side in the top of the first, IUP scored twice in the bottom of the inning when Gannon leftfielder Mike Tomko lost an Aaron Lupia (Middletown/Middletown) pop up for a double, driving in Frank Sirolli (Cinnaminson, N.J./Cinnaminson) and Vern Powell (Tabernacle, N.J./Seneca). The Golden Knights tied it in the third with the help of two IUP errors and an RBI double by Tim Lipp.

The Crimson Hawks went back in front in the third on a solo home run by Sirolli and added three more runs in the fifth. Robbie Zinsmeister (Hatfield/North Penn) and Sirolli singled to put runners on first and third. After Sirolli stole second, Powell singled up the middle to drive in two runs and make it 5-2.

With two outs, Dylan Songer (Baden/North Allegheny) grounded to third but Jeff Jones threw over the head of first baseman Kolten Hoffman to allow the third run of the inning. Stewart retired the side in order in the sixth, including two strikeouts, and Cooke struck out three batters in the seventh to wrap up the win.

In the second game, the Crimson Hawks rallied late to complete the sweep. Trailing 2-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth, Sirolli walked with one out and moved to third on a two-out single by Mike Lupia (Middletown/Middletown). A pair of walks followed, with Songer driving in Sirolli with his base on balls.

Landon Wahl replaced starter Paul McKenna and threw a first pitch strike to Ryan Sylvia (Johnstown, Pa./Richland). But catcher Evan Baglieri could not make the play and it went to the backstop for a passed ball, allowing Mike Lupia (Middletown/Middletown) to score the go-ahead run.

The IUP bats were silenced through five innings by Gannon starter Paul McKenna, getting only a bloop single by Sirolli in the third. The Crimson Hawks scored a run without the benefit of a base hit in the first but fell behind 2-1 in the fifth.

Harpster led off with a slow grounder to first which was fielded by pitcher Chris Douglas (Canonsburg/Canon-McMillan) who appeared to tag the runner for the first out. But after an umpire discussion, it was ruled that Douglas missed the tag, opening the door for the Golden Knight rally.

Lipp followed with a single that moved Harpster to third. With one out, Cooke came in for the second time in the doubleheader, and the Golden Knights tied it on a double steal and took the lead on a double by Lou Downey which plated Lipp.

After IUP went ahead in the bottom of the sixth, Gannon loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh before Cooke struck out Jordan Bergado looking to end the game.