Box Score Box Score

SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV – Matt Szukics (Hainesport, NJ/Rancocas Valley) three-run home run in the third inning gave the Crimson Hawks the lead for good as IUP defeated Shepherd 8-6 in its first game of the Ram Invitational at Shepherd University in West Virginia.

The game ended after six innings due to darkness and wet weather.

Greg Stewart (Kittanning/Elderton) picked up his first win of the year for IUP, going five innings while striking out five and giving up six hits.

The Crimson Hawks (2-3) got to work early in the first with as a leadoff walk put Robbie Zinsmeister (Hatfield/North Penn) on where he promptly stole second. After Mike Lupia (Middletown/Middletown) got on with another walk, Troy Foster (Shamong, NJ/Seneca) doubled down the left field line, bringing in Zinsmeister. Two batters later Aaron Lupia (Middletown/Middletown) gapped one to right center, clearing the bases as IUP took a 3-0 lead. He would later score on a third double, this one off the bat of Brett Quiggle (Weedville/St. Marys) as the Crimson Hawks hung four runs on the Rams in the first inning.

However, Shepherd countered in its half of the inning with six runs, all with two outs on the board. Two walks by Stewart along with a single loaded the bases before a double to center brought two home. The big hit came later in the inning with a Rams three-run homer to left center capping the big opening inning.

IUP got on back the very next inning when a double by Dylan Songer (Baden/North Allegheny) scored Mike Lupia (Middletown/Middletown), making it a 6-5 game.

The third inning for the Crimson Hawks started with a single by David McNeill (Pittsburgh/Our Lady of Sacred Heart), who advanced to second on an error and would later move to third after Quiggle reached on another error. That set up Szukics homer as he drilled one to left to give the Crimson Hawks an 8-6 lead.

IUP wasn't done yet in the third, as Mike Lupia (Middletown/Middletown) doubled and Foster walked with two down, but a strikeout would end the threat.

Shepherd tried to get back on top during its half of the inning, getting two in scoring position before Stewart escaped with a strikeout to end the third.

The Rams would get runners on in each of the next two innings, but Stewart continued to work out of trouble, finally getting a 1-2-3 inning in the sixth to end the game. 

IUP collected seven hits on the day, five of which were doubles, and made zero errors in the field. Austin Mock (State College/State College) picked up the save in relief, shutting down the Rams in the sixth for the IUP win.

The Crimson Hawks are back in action at the Ram Invitational tomorrow with games against Bloomsburg and Shepherd.