Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SALEM, VA – Jasa Mitchell (Snow Shoe/Bald Eagle Area) nailed two home runs and had three RBI to help lead the IUP softball team to a two-game split on the first day of the 2012  West Virginia Wesleyan Tournament Friday.

Alexa Campbell (Manheim/Manheim Central ) tossed a one-hit gem in the Crimson Hawks 8-0 game one win over the University of Charleston, but IUP was unable to keep the momentum rolling in game two, falling to Fairmont State by a score of 6-2.

Marissa Leslie (Claysburg/Claysburg-Kimmel) got the scoring started early in game one with an RBI double in the first inning that plated Monica Iachini (Claysburg/Claysburg-Kimmel). The Crimson Hawks would break the game wide open in the fourth when Christi Mauk (Claysburg/Claysburg-Kimmel) nailed a three-run homer that scored Mary Ward (Hatfield/North Penn) and Stef Poates (Yorktown, VA/Grafton) and gave IUP a 4-0 lead, but the offense was not done.

Mitchell would smack the first of her two home runs on the day in the bottom of the fifth to bring home Megan McCormick (Evans City/Seneca Valley) and give IUP a 6-0 lead, and Ward would cap the Crimson Hawks power surge with a two-run bomb to give IUP an 8-0 lead and end the
game in just five innings.

Campbell was excellent in the circle for the Crimson Hawks, striking out two and allowing just one hit in five innings of work.
The Crimson Hawks found themselves behind early in game two after a first-inning home run by Abbey Wilson gave Fairmont State a 1-0 lead. Wilson would add her second homer of the game in the third inning to increase the lead to 3-0 in favor of the Fighting Falcons, but IUP would not go down without a fight.

After a single by Mauk and a walk to Iachini to move Mauk into scoring position, Leslie delivered with an RBI single to trim the lead to just two in the fifth. Fairmont State would add three more runs in the sixth to take a 6-1 lead, but Mitchell would keep the fight alive for the Crimson Hawks with her second long-ball of the day to pull IUP within four.

IUP was unable to put together a late rally, however, as the Fighting Falcons were able to fend off any Crimson Hawks scoring chances and hold on for the 6-2 win. With the split, IUP now holds a record of 5-6-1 on the season.

The Crimson Hawks are back in action tomorrow with a pair of games against Ohio Valley and Seton Hill. First pitch with Ohio Valley is set for 11:00 a.m., while game time with the Griffins is set for 1:00 p.m.