Game 1 Boxscore
Game 2 Boxscore

IUP staged a dramatic comeback to pull out a 7-6 win in the first game and added a mini-rally in a 6-3 victory in the nightcap as the Crimson Hawks swept a PSAC West doubleheader from Mercyhurst Sunday at Owen Dougherty Field.

The Crimson Hawks avenged a sweep yesterday in Erie and improved to 14-18 overall while evening their division record at 6-6. The Lakers dropped to 21-9 and 7-6.

In a tightly-bunched PSAC West race, IUP, Mercyhurst and Lock Haven are tied for second in the loss column, trailing only 8-4 Slippery Rock. The Crimson Hawks play the Rock in a four-game set next weekend.

In the first game, IUP snapped a six-game losing streak but not before trailing 5-0 in the sixth inning. The Lakers scored twice in the first and fifth against starter Chris Douglas (Canonsburg/Canon-McMillan) and added another run off reliever Evan Phillips (Harrisburg/Susquehanna Township) in the sixth and appeared on their way to their third straight win in the series with pitcher Nick Gillung in total control.

But the Crimson Hawks struck back in the sixth, scoring five times with two outs. Aaron Lupia (Middletown/Middletown), Dylan Songer (Baden/North Allegheny) and Tyler Mroz (Pittsburgh/Chartiers Valley) had consecutive RBI singles, and Andrew Welch (DuBois, Pa./DuBois Central Catholic) came through with the biggest hit of his college career when he doubled to right center to tie the game.

Bill Gerstenslager put the Lakers right back in front with a solo homer to right off Stephen Cooke (Severn, MD/Archbishop Curley), but again IUP battled back. Robbie Zinsmeister (Hatfield/North Penn) reached second on a throwing error by shortstop Jonathan Keppler, moved to third on a single by Frank Sirolli (Cinnaminson, N.J./Cinnaminson) and scored the tying run on a sacrifice fly by Mike Lupia (Middletown/Middletown).

The Crimson Hawks had the bases loaded with only one out, but Matthew Jimenez retired the final two batters of the inning, including a diving catch by second baseman Zak Blair on a liner off the bat of Cory Sawka (Uniontown/Uniontown).

Cooke shook off the home run he allowed in the seventh by retiring the Lakers in order in the eighth. In the bottom of the inning, Brett Quiggle (Weedville/St. Marys) was hit by a pitch and Zinsmeister walked with one out. Sirolli then launched a double over the head of leftfielder Kevin McCall to easily score Quiggle with the winning run.

The second game didn't start any better than the opener, with Mercyhurst scoring three times in the second off starter Kyle Heane (McClure, Pa./Indian Valley), including a leadoff home run by Ethan Santora and a two-run single by Blair.

IUP was hitless through three innings before finally reaching Zach Leitten in the fourth on RBI singles by Vern Powell (Tabernacle, N.J./Seneca) and Aaron Lupia (Middletown/Middletown). The Crimson Hawks then scored four times off relievers Joe Cochran and Tyler Bowditch in the sixth to take a 6-3 lead.

Zinsmeister walked, Sirolli was hit by a pitch and Powell had a bunt single to load the bases with nobody out. Mike Lupia (Middletown/Middletown) tied it with a ground out and Aaron Lupia (Middletown/Middletown) followed with a two-run double to give IUP the lead. An insurance run scored on a Laker error.

Jared Weed (Washington Crossing, Pa./Council Rock North) relieved Heane in the second and went 5 1-3 innings of one-hit, shutout ball to earn his second win of the season.

Before IUP faces Slippery Rock in its next PSAC West series, the Crimson Hawks travel to Millersville Wednesday for a non-conference twinbill. IUP hosts Slippery Rock Friday and visits the Rock the following day.