Boxscore
Photos from seventh inning rally

After an improbable three-run rally in the bottom of the seventh, IUP finds itself just one win away from a trip to the NCAA Division II College World Series.

Dee Eppinger (North Wales, Pa./North Penn) singled in the tying and winning runs with IUP down to its final out to lift the Crimson Hawks to a 3-2 victory over Bloomsburg in the opening game of the best-of-three Atlantic Super Regional Friday at Podbielski Field.

The second game of the series takes place Saturday at noon, and a Crimson Hawk victory sends them to the College World Series for the first time in school history. Should Bloomsburg win, a deciding third game will take place 30 minutes later.

The College World Series takes place May 26-30 in Salem, Va. The Huskies are the defending region champion.

IUP (37-6) remained undefeated in 10 postseason games, including six at the PSAC tournament when it won its first conference championship in school history and three last weekend in its bracket of the Atlantic Regional tournament. Bloomsburg dropped to 33-8.

Trailing 2-0 and with one out in the seventh, Michelle Bivona (Thorndale, Pa./Coatesville) grounded a single up the middle, and Raquel Rugani (McKees Rocks, Pa./Montour ) rolled a fielder's choice grounder to short, just beating the relay at first to avoid a game-ending double play.

Mary Ward (Hatfield/North Penn) drew the only walk allowed by Bloomsburg pitcher Shavaun Fisher, moving pinch runner Tara Waldo (Pittsburgh/Baldwin) to second. Jen Beaver (Chester Springs/Owen J. Roberts), who hit four home runs during the regular season, was called on to pinch hit and placed a double just inside the right field foul line to score Waldo with IUP's first run of the game.

With first base open, Husky coach Susan Kocher decided to pitch to Eppinger, who already had two hits in the game including a double in the sixth. With a 2-2 count, Eppinger lined a base hit between shortstop Dani Lazorka and leftfielder Lori Neyhard to easily score both runs.

“When you have a pitcher of that quality you put a lot of faith in her,” IUP coach Bill Graham said of the decision to pitch to Eppinger.

IUP had wasted an opportunity to get on the board an inning earlier. Eppinger doubled to start the inning and Marissa Leslie (Claysburg/Claysburg-Kimmel) singled to left. But Eppinger was gunned down at the plate on a perfect throw from Neyhard, and Fisher retired the final two batters to keep the Huskies in front by two runs.

“I thought the sixth was our best opportunity with the top of the order coming up,” Graham said. “I didn't think the play would be close at the plate, but the girl made a great throw. But I still had confidence in our team. We were behind 2-0 to Bloomsburg earlier this season and came back to win.”

The game was a duel between the two best pitchers in the PSAC, with Fisher getting the better of IUP's Erin Holloway (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton) most of the way. The Crimson Hawks managed only three hits over the first five innings while the Huskies reached Holloway for single runs in the first and fifth.

Lacy Mauro reached on an infield single to short to begin the game, moved to second on a ground out to Holloway and scored on a hard hit double to the fence in right center by Sam Pientack. Holloway, who edged out Fisher for PSAC Central and Atlantic Region pitcher of the year honors, then set down 10 of the next 11 batters to keep it a one-run game.

Neyhard ended that when she doubled over the head of Monica Iachini (Claysburg/Claysburg-Kimmel) in center to lead off the fifth. With two outs and Neyhard at third, Mauro lined a double inside the leftfield line to chase home what appeared to be an insurance run for the Huskies.

“Even after we were behind 2-0, I honestly thought we still had a chance to win,” Eppinger said. “I have a lot of faith and trust in my teammates. I had a really good feeling I would see (Fisher) again, and I'm glad that I did.”

“In a game like this you never want to give up extra runs,” Graham said. “But this team is playing so well that I always feel like we have a chance to win until they put the final out up there.”

Holloway allowed five hits, struck out seven and walked one to win her 26th game of the season in 29 decisions. The senior righthander increased her school-record career totals to 77 wins and 989 strikeouts while working her 102nd complete game. Holloway has pitched every inning of IUP's conference and NCAA tournament runs and surrendered a total of only seven runs and 28 hits with 88 strikeouts.

Fisher (19-6) also struck out seven in taking the loss.

“From the very beginning of the season, I wasn't thinking about going to the World Series or winning a national championship,” Eppinger said. “But if we can beat Bloomsburg, I think we can beat just about anyone.”

Notes: Crimson Hawk first baseman Megan McCormick (Evans City/Seneca Valley) went 0-for-3…prior to Friday's game she was 17-for-32 with 18 RBIs in nine postseason games…designated player Raquel Rugani (McKees Rocks, Pa./Montour ) had her 13-game hitting streak snapped…the win was just the fifth in 60 all-time meetings for IUP against Bloomsburg, but three of those victories have come in the NCAA tournament.