Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Game One Box | Game Two Box

BREVARD, NC - Dylan Songer (Baden/North Allegheny) and Robbie Zinsmeister (Hatfield/North Penn) combined for a pair of homeruns, two doubles and seven RBI as the IUP baseball team split its doubleheader with Brevard on Tuesday, dropping the opener 14-8 before rallying for a 7-6 victory in game two on its spring break trip in North Carolina.

Zinsmeister went 2-for-4 with a homer, three RBI and two runs scored in the opener as he helped IUP jump out 2-0 with a leadoff round-tripper to start the game. Songer would follow that up two batter later with his own homerun, another solo shot, as the Crimson Hawks took the early advantage.

Brevard would strike back in the bottom half, getting six runs on six hits, including a three-run homerun, to jump up on the Crimson Hawks 6-2.

IUP struck back with three more runs in the second inning, all with two outs, starting with back-to-back singles by Ryan Uhl (St. Marys/St. Marys) and John Beatty (New Castle/Mohawk). Zinseister doubled with those two on, bringing them both home, later advancing to third on a passed ball. IUP then capitalized on another mistake by the Tornados, as Aaron Lupia (Middletown/Middletown) advanced on an error by the third baseman as Zinsmeister scored for the third run of the inning.

The Crimson Hawks took the lead in the fourth, getting three runs, all crossing the plate after IUP batters were hit by pitches, as they tallied just one hit in the inning.

The Tornados though would retake the lead in their half, getting eight runs on seven hits to take a 14-8 lead, ultimately finishing off IUP with three scoreless innings in the win.

Brevard got out to a 2-1 lead in game two, as Songer doubled home Zinsmeister in the first before the Tornados put together a couple of RBI hits to take the lead.

After Brevard went up 4-1 with two more runs in the third, the Crimson Hawks countered with their biggest inning of the game, scoring four runs in the fourth to take a 5-4 lead.

After Lupia and Dylan Tice (Perkasie/Pennridge) walked to lead off the inning, Brett Quiggle (Weedville/St. Marys) doubled to left center to bring in Lupis for the first run of the inning. A pickoff plus a strikeout put two runners in scoring position before Zinsmeister walked to load the bases with two down. Mike Lupia (Middletown/Middletown) then singled through the left side, bringing home Uhl and Quiggle to tie the score at 4-4. Troy Foster (Shamong, NJ/Seneca) then singled up the middle as Zinsmeister scored to give IUP the lead.

Brevard took its turn on top with two runs on three hits in the fifth but IUP responded with a pair of runs of its own in the top of the sixth, getting RBI singles from Songer and Aaron Lupia (Middletown/Middletown), to take a 7-6 lead.

The Tornados threatened in the seventh, putting two runners on with just one out before Austin Mock (State College/State College) entered the game and got the final two outs to close out the game and pick up the save.

Christian Wolosik (Pittsburgh/North Catholic) picked up his first win of the year in relief, going 3.2 innings and giving up just one earned on five hits. Zinsmeister didn't collect a hit but drew five walks, stealing two bases and scoring three runs. Songer and Mike Lupia (Middletown/Middletown) each had two RBI in the win while Songer, Quiggle and Foster all had two hits apiece.

The Crimson Hawks (6-7-1) are back in action on Wednesday with another doubleheader in North Carolina against Lenoir-Rhyne.