Young Harris Boxscore
Waldorf Boxscore

IUP nearly pulled off a late rally from an eight-run deficit before dropping a 9-7 decision to Waldorf after losing to Young Harris by a score of 14-4 earlier Monday.

The Crimson Hawks (4-5) trailed Waldorf 9-1 heading into the bottom of the eighth before a sacrifice fly by Dylan Songer (Baden/North Allegheny) and a two-run single by Jacob Shaffer (Vandergrift, Pa./Kiski Area) drew IUP within five.

An inning later, Vern Powell (Tabernacle, N.J./Seneca) knocked in a pair of runs with his third hit of the game, and Tyler Mroz (Pittsburgh/Chartiers Valley) came through with a pinch hit RBI single to make it a two-run game. But Warrior pitcher Kasey Krekling struck out the final two batters with the tying runs in scoring position.

IUP scored the first run of the game in the first on a double by Robbie Zinsmeister (Hatfield/North Penn), a single by Frank Sirolli (Cinnaminson, N.J./Cinnaminson) and a passed ball. Waldorf (4-3) answered with two in the second, three in the fifth and four in the sixth to build its big lead.

In the game against Young Harris (12-9), Sirolli went 5-for-5, scored two runs and knocked in two while Zinsmeister also had two hits. After the Mountain Lions scored runs in the first and second, IUP tied it in the third on run scoring singles by Sirolli and Powell.

The Crimson Hawks took a 3-2 lead in the fifth when Sirolli singled and scored on a double by Aaron Lupia (Middletown/Middletown). The advantage was brief, however, as Young Harris scored eight times in its half of the inning, including a three-run homer by Jack Morrow.

Sirolli rounded out the IUP scoring with another RBI single in the sixth. Zach Bricknell also homered for the Mountain Cats while David Atwood drove in four runs.

IUP finishes its trip to Young Harris with a game with the Mountain Cats at 2 p.m. on Tuesday. The Crimson Hawks then head to Gaffney, S.C., for doubleheaders against nationally-ranked Limestone on Wednesday and Thursday.