Game 1 Boxscore
Game 2 Boxscore

IUP clinched a berth in the PSAC playoffs when Frank Sirolli (Cinnaminson, N.J./Cinnaminson) scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh, giving the Crimson Hawks a wild 6-5 win over California in the opening game of a doubleheader at CONSOL Energy Park.

IUP dropped the second game 3-0 as Ryan McNamara tossed a two-hit shutout for the Vulcans. The Crimson Hawks, who will be making their second straight appearance in the conference playoffs, are 19-25 overall and 11-11 in the PSAC West.

IUP fell behind 5-4 in the top of the seventh on a two-run single by pinch hitter Ben Carson off Stephen Cooke (Severn, MD/Archbishop Curley). The Crimson Hawks responded quickly, tying the game on a bunt single by Cory Sawka (Uniontown/Uniontown) and an RBI double off the bat of Robbie Zinsmeister (Hatfield/North Penn).

Sirolli was intentionally walked and Vern Powell (Tabernacle, N.J./Seneca) reached on an infield single for his third hit of the game, loading the bases with still nobody out. Zinsmeister was retired at the plate on a fielder's choice grounder by Mike Lupia (Middletown/Middletown), but with Aaron Lupia (Middletown/Middletown) at the plate Ryan Hulme uncorked a wild pitch that plated Sirolli with the game-winning run.

It was the second deficit of the game that IUP overcame after California jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second off starter Ben Weimer (New Alexandria/Linsly School). The Crimson Hawks got a run back in the bottom of the second on a run-scoring single by Brett Quiggle (Weedville/St. Marys), and Powell launched a two-run homer to left in the third to tie the game at 3.

IUP took the lead 4-3 the following inning when Zinsmeister doubled in pinch runner Jake Shaffer. Shaffer was running for Dylan Songer (Baden/North Allegheny), who got the inning started with a single.

Ryan Sylvia (Johnstown, Pa./Richland) relieved Cooke with two outs in the top of the seventh and struck out Kyle Bowser to end the inning. Sylvia was credited with his first college win. Weimer went the first 4 1-3 innings, allowing three hits and one earned run while striking out and walking six. Cooke fanned four in his 2 1-3 innings of relief.

The second game was dominated by McNamara, who allowed only a leadoff single by Zinsmeister in the first and a two-out double by Sawka in the fifth. IUP left runners on first and third in the opening inning and had only one other runner reach as far as third.

Craig Hibell (New Bethlehem/Redbank Valley), making only his fifth appearance and seventh start of the season, pitched well for the Crimson Hawks, going five innings and giving up only three hits and one run. Sylvia worked the final two frames and was touched for three hits and a pair of runs.

The two teams wrap up their four-game series Saturday at 1 p.m., also at CONSOL Energy Park.