Game 1 Boxscore
Game 2 Boxscore

IUP scored seven unanswered runs after facing an early deficit for a 9-5 win in the first game but fell victim to a five-run rally in the nightcap in a 12-11 loss in a PSAC West doubleheader split Sunday at Slippery Rock.

The Crimson Hawks are 15-21 overall and 7-9 in the PSAC West and head into the final two weeks of the regular season squarely in the hunt for a berth in the conference playoffs. Slippery Rock is 22-12 and in first place in the division at 11-5, one-half game ahead of Mercyhurst.

In the opener, IUP trailed 3-1 after three innings but loaded the bases with one out in the fourth. Vern Powell (Tabernacle, N.J./Seneca) tied it with a two-run single up the middle, and one out later Aaron Lupia (Middletown/Middletown) singled to center to give the Crimson Hawks the lead.

Frank Sirolli (Cinnaminson, N.J./Cinnaminson) doubled in three runs in the fifth, and IUP added another run in the sixth to build an 8-3 lead. Slippery Rock scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to pull within 8-5, but Pat Bradley (Pittsburgh/North Allegheny) took over from starter Greg Stewart (Kittanning/Elderton) and struck out Adam Jury to prevent the Rock from getting any closer.

The Crimson Hawks tacked on an insurance run in the seventh, and Bradley retired Slippery Rock in order in the bottom of the inning with two strikeouts for his first save. Stewart improved to 4-2, allowing nine hits and striking out three in 5 2-3 innings.

In the second game, IUP took an 11-10 lead into the bottom of the seventh, but Jury tied it with an RBI single. Matt Kosik struck out to apparently end the inning but was able to reach on a wild pitch to prevent the game from going into extra frames. Matt Accardi followed with a single up the middle to give the Rock the come-from-behind win.

The Crimson Hawks had taken an 11-7 lead with five runs in the sixth. Brett Quiggle (Weedville/St. Marys) led off with a solo homer, Sirolli singled in two runs and IUP also scored on a wild pitch and sacrifice fly by Lupia. Accardi doubled in three runs in the bottom of the sixth to pull Slippery Rock within 11-10.

A solo homer by Lee Foxton and three-run shot by Jury staked the Rock to an early 5-0 lead in the second game with IUP managing only two hits through the first four innings. But the Crimson Hawks erupted for six runs in the fifth to take the lead, including RBI singles by Robbie Zinsmeister (Hatfield/North Penn) and Powell and a two-run base hit by Lupia.

Slippery Rock retook the lead with two runs in its half of the fifth before IUP seemed to be on the verge of the sweep after its big sixth inning.

IUP plays three non-conference games this week at Owen Dougherty Field, including a Tuesday doubleheader against Bloomsburg and a Wednesday single game against Mount Aloysius. The Crimson Hawks resume PSAC West play Friday and Saturday against Clarion.